Football: do political messages have their place in the stands of stadiums?


It was expected. The meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Maccabi Haifa on October 25 in the Champions League gave rise to a completely different duel. A remote confrontation between Parisian supporters and Israeli supporters in the stands and during which sport gave way to politics.

In the Auteuil bend, several Parisian supporters unfurled flags in the colors of Palestine at the entrance of the players on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. Opposite, in the Boulogne bend, supporters of the Hebrew State club also displayed Israeli flags. Political opinions that echo the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Gaza exists, free Palestine”

During this same meeting, a banner displayed by PSG supporters read: “Gaza exists, Gaza resists, free Palestine”. A very politicized meeting in the stands.

The authorities also feared violence between Israeli supporters and Parisian supporters outside the stadium. More than 800 police and gendarmes were deployed for the occasion.

For French rabbi Haïm Korsia, these demonstrations in the stands “should not deteriorate the very essence of football”. “Football is a moment of celebration, it must be kept festive. We must not deteriorate the good-child atmosphere of football”, declared the guest at the microphone ofEurope 1 Sport.

Politicization right down to the field

And this politicization of stadiums can even be shared by the players. Witness Neymar, the PSG player. Before the presidential elections in Brazil which saw Lula win, the Parisian striker openly showed his support for outgoing President Bolsonaro.

“We must protect football from external political influences, but we must find a balance. Young people admire these stars, they are influenced”, warned Haïm Korsia in Europe 1 Sport.

The return of the ultra right in the stadiums

This politicization can sometimes take a violent turn, like the return of the ultra-right in the stadiums. A tricolor flag with the Celtic cross, a symbol of distinction for identity groups, was displayed during the Ligue 1 match between Lorient and Reims by Champagne supporters. The Professional Football League (LFP) has opened disciplinary proceedings.

These same hooligans, from the Reims small group “MesOs Reims” also photographed themselves giving the Nazi salute in the city of Lorient. And this can go as far as a pitched battle outside the stadiums.

In March 2022, far-right hooligans from Strasbourg, Paris and Reims met in an industrial area to fight it out. A phenomenon which worries the authorities and which marks the return of these politicized small groups in the world of football.



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