Several Parisian fans were shocked by the body searches carried out before the Champions League match between Benfica and PSG (1-1).
Parisian supporters were offended by body searches “shocking» et «disproportionateWednesday in Lisbon before PSG’s match against Benfica in the Champions League (1-1), Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a federation of national supporters’ associations, announced on Friday.
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«We are able to confirm the testimonies detailing disproportionate body searches during the Benfica-PSG match. These testimonies were confirmed during interviews with several PSG supporters who attended the match.“Wrote FSE on his Twitter account.
Searches turned into sexual assaults
In all high-level matches, the protocol provides for body searches of spectators by stewards to avoid the introduction of prohibited objects into the stadium, such as smoke bombs.
If I had known how to speak Portuguese, I could have filed a sexual assault complaint.
Juliette, PSG supporter
According to testimonies collected by the radio France Blue a Parisian supporter present on Wednesday at the Luz stadium mentioned palpations “shocking, the hand inside (his) underwear for a good minute, before putting (him) a long hand in (his) crotch».
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Another supporter accused a steward of havingpalpated the breasts for a long time». «If I had known how to speak Portuguese, I could have filed a sexual assault complaint.“, argued this ultra Parisian, named Juliette and quoted by France Blue.
Other supporters mentioned palpations under the underwear or at the level of the genitals.
Similar problems in the Champions League
FSE, for its part, called on the supporters present in Lisbon to answer an online survey. “We are investigating the issue with the PSG groups, (the Portuguese supporters’ association) Adeptos Portugal, our network of Portuguese lawyers and have raised the issue with UEFA.“, specified FSE.
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Similar complaints had already been issued this season against Benfica. On September 8, following the match between Benfica and Maccabi Haifa (2-0) in the Champions League, the Israeli club issued a press release asking for “explanations” to his Portuguese counterpart and to UEFA concerning body searches deemed “offendingcarried out on his supporters.