2023-05-04 19:15:00
Many supporters went, Wednesday, May 3, in front of the headquarters of PSG – the Factory – to express their dissatisfaction with the situation of the club.
By Leo Rougagnou
© FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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MWednesday, May 3, 6 p.m. It was the time set by the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) for Paris-Saint-Germain enthusiasts. The series of bad results enraged the supporters who came in large numbers to Boulogne-Billancourt, in front of the Factory, to show their anger at the state of their favorite team. The event was held in a peaceful manner with the sole objective of putting pressure on the PSG staff. But a breaking point has been reached between the club and its supporters.
In the line of sight, a sports project which is lost and causes a lack of identity at the club. Today, a club is defined by its logo, its colors or the representation of a city. Except that “the club is now called Paris Saint-Germain, but we will soon no longer train at Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain and we may no longer play in Paris. In addition, we play in pink, black, yellow, fuchsia. What’s left of PSG’s DNA? recalls Cyril Dubois, lawyer at the Paris Bar and the CUP group. For him and the supporters he defends, the club is above all a marketing and geopolitical tool. “We are losing the Parisian identity,” says Cyril Dubois.
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Another problem arises. Resale of tickets online. Indeed, some people buy subscriptions for the year and then resell the places individually with the sole objective of making a margin on resale. This phenomenon considerably increases the price of tickets and the most modest are slowly fleeing to make way for tourists. “Today, when we travel to Paris, we want to see the Eiffel Tower, go on a river boat and we buy tickets on Ticketplace – a ticket resale platform – to see Messi play football”, regrets the lawyer. .
Problems, all linked to one instance, the management. An impression of vacation is felt among the supporters on the part of the presidency. “We changed players, coaches, sports directors. Failure is always the same. We need a change of man higher up, ”supports Cyril. Despite numerous attempts to communicate with Nasser al-Khelaïfi, the president of PSG, the dialogue does not exist for the moment.
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Targeted players
After management, PSG stars have been targeted. Although Lionel Messi’s departure from the club is almost official, the chants of supporters burst out to show their annoyances against the sevenfold Ballon d’Or: “Messi, son of a b*** “. The fans didn’t have time to get attached to the Argentine, who, for some, took advantage of his presence at the club only to be in shape for the World Cup.
Lionel Messi insulted as a “son of a bitch” by the Parisian supporters present in front of the headquarters of PSG. ������ pic.twitter.com/xplshai9Gs
— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) May 3, 2023
Neymar was also targeted. Dozens of supporters showed up at his home chanting: “Neymar, break up! “. The lawyer recalls that these acts are in no way linked to the group of Parisian supporters. “I see no reason to go and demonstrate in front of a player’s property,” he laments. He nevertheless wishes to recall that the songs took place in peace, without any degradation and without any crime.
The painful chain
Paris is not doing well this year between controversy and poor results. An inglorious defeat in the knockout stages of the Champions League against Bayern Munich. Elimination in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France against its historic rival, Olympique de Marseille (2-1). The series of bad results in Ligue 1. The Messi affair that shakes up the whole world. Coach Christophe Galtier in turmoil over accusations of racism by players from his former club, OGC Nice.
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The club also sees at the end of the season, its direct competitors, Marseille and Lens, getting closer to the classification in the French championship, the only competition remaining for the team from the capital. A final objective, which, if not fulfilled, would plunge the club into a real crisis situation.
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