PSG Ultras Display Offensive Banners Targeting Journalists Before Champions League Match

PSG fans have recently unveiled provocative banners targeting two journalists from L’Équipe, prior to their first leg Champions League match against Liverpool. Both the UJSF and the sports newspaper quickly responded to the incident.

“After Arnaud Hermant for a long time, here comes Loïc Tanzi: boycott L’Équipe and its anti-PSG trash articles.” This was the offensive banner displayed by Parisian supporters just before the Champions League clash between PSG and Liverpool. The shocking message has drawn outrage from the Union of Sports Journalists in France (UJSF):

“The UJSF is outraged and concerned about the unacceptable banner that appeared in the early moments of PSG-Liverpool on Wednesday night at Parc des Princes. This banner, stretched across the Auteuil stand, specifically named two journalists covering the club. It could only have been displayed with the complicity of PSG.

Given the extremely tense atmosphere in French football, this complicity is both intolerable and irresponsible. Following several instances of organized digital harassment over the years, this represents a direct and unacceptable threat to journalists performing their duties, all because of articles that some club officials do not appreciate. The UJSF expects PSG to issue an apology.”

L’Équipe issues a statement

In its latest edition, L’Équipe did not hesitate to respond. “L’Équipe firmly condemns this insulting message and regrets that such a banner was allowed to be displayed. This message endangers the physical and moral integrity of two journalists. L’Équipe assures its reporters of its full support and confidence,” stated Matthias Gurtler, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief.

The editorial team at 90min expresses its unwavering support for the reporters from L’Équipe targeted by this deeply shocking and dangerous banner for press freedom.