PSG fans display Pro-Palestine banner during Champions League match

Fans of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) unveiled a massive "Free Palestine" banner at the Parc des Princes Stadium ahead of their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.

The display, which was organised by the club’s Boulogne Kop supporters, also featured another banner that asked, “Does a child’s life in Gaza mean less than another?”

As PSG prepared for their European fixture, the fans also added a powerful message reading, “War on the pitch, but peace in the world,” alongside an image of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Lebanese flag.

The latter reference highlighted the ongoing violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which has claimed lives in Lebanon in recent days.

While the banners were met with applause from some, PSG was quick to distance itself from the political protest. In a statement issued shortly after the match, the French club stressed that it had not been informed about the display in advance.

The controversy surrounding PSG’s protest comes as France prepares to host Israel in a Nations League clash at the Stade de France next week, raising concerns over potential political protests in the stands.

Israel has been conducting a relentless offensive against the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. The ongoing assault has claimed nearly 43,400 lives and left the enclave nearly uninhabitable. Israel is now facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the besieged territory.