In the Champions League match against Paris, Bayern fans display posters critical of the PSG boss. The German record champions have now responded publicly.
FC Bayern has apologized to Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi for abusive posters displayed by his fans in the recent Champions League match. "The club would like to make it clear that these posters were not authorized by FC Bayern and do not reflect its stance," a statement from the German football record champions read.
Supporters of the Munich club had held up banners in the Allianz Arena during the match against PSG (1:0) on Tuesday evening, on which Al-Khelaifi was called a plutocrat, i.e. a ruler because of his wealth, among other things. In addition, the quote "Le foot c'est moi" (I am the football) compared him to the absolutist French Sun King Louis XIV, who is famous for saying: "I am the state."
Al-Khelaifi is one of the most influential people in football
Bayern fans were reminded that the influential Al-Khelaifi holds several positions in international football: he is not only president in Paris, but also head of the European Club Association ECA and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee. He is also a minister in Qatar and head of the BeIN Sports media group, which holds broadcasting rights for the Champions League, among other things.
"Fuck off" could be read on a poster in the Munich south curve in the direction of Al-Khelaifi. Next to it, the fans displayed a banner with the crossed-out portrait of the influential football and sports official.
Bayern: "Good and long-standing relationship"
"FC Bayern would like to apologize if its opponents and their representatives are personally attacked in this way and in this tone in its stadium and feel insulted as a result," the club wrote. The posters were "not in keeping with the good and long-standing relationship between the two clubs. The tone of these posters also contradicts the style of FC Bayern and the respectful relationship that the club maintains with its international partners".
dpa
