CF Montreal have had some disputes with their ultras, but this is not a unique situation as relations between Paris Saint-Germain and its main fan group are very strained.
The Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) announced last week that it was suspending all domestic and international activities until the end of the season.
It’s a momentous decision because it doesn’t just affect the men’s soccer team. It is also aimed at the women’s team as well as the handball team, a sport very popular in France.
There was an initial exchange between the CUP and the club, but it didn’t ease tensions.
The supporters particularly criticize the indifference of the management towards them. President Nasser al-Khelaïfi has refused to meet them to discuss their demands, which relate to a ticket resale system and the abandonment of the Stade de France purchase plan.
fracture
That break seems unlikely as the CUP owe their presence at the Stade de France to Nasser al-Khelaïfi.
In fact, it was he who, seven years ago, insisted that the collective be allowed to return to the Parc des Princes. According to L’Équipe, he had done everything he could with the Paris prefecture to ensure that the ultras were allowed back into the stadium.
They had been banned from the Stade de France under the so-called Leproux Plan, named after Robin Leproux, a former PSG president who held the post before the team was acquired by Interests Qataris in 2011.
Leproux pledged in 2010 to calm down the stadium, which was struggling with fighting between rival clans that resulted in the deaths of two fans in 2006 and 2010. This situation almost led to the dissolution of the association.
So we are back in 2016. At this point al-Khelaïfi insisted that the Ultras should return as a consolidated group, the Collectif Ultras Paris.
Hope
We are therefore at a crossroads as the honeymoon between the President and the CUP is long over.
But there is hope: last Monday there was a new meeting to break the deadlock. It appears that progress has been made towards resolving the dispute, which is a good thing considering an entire area of the Stade de France was empty in the stunning 5-0 win over AC Ajaccio a week ago. It fills an atmosphere.
It appears the club have made commitments on a number of issues, including handling the resale of tickets for big matches.
The CUP accuses PSG of using the Ticketplace platform to resell the tickets. This would help increase the stakes on the most popular games. The CUP and its director, the K-Soce team, will consult to decide whether to accept the hand extended by the club’s management.
In the PSG camp, we want the Collectif Ultras Paris to be back at the Stade de France on June 3 as we celebrate the club’s 11th Ligue 1 title.
KNOWN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALISTS
Photo: AFP
Manuel Akanji celebrates the duel against Real Madrid with Erling Haaland on Wednesday.
Inter Milan meets Manchester City in the Champions League final. Inter defeated local rivals AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate, while the Cityzens also easily defeated Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate thanks to a 4-0 win in the second leg in Manchester. The final will take place on June 10th in Istanbul, Turkey.
NEW OFFER FOR MAN U
Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani has made a fourth bid to buy Manchester United. It’s about $8.4 billion, according to Sky Sports, still a far cry from the $10.1 billion demanded by the Glazer family, owners of the club. The offer would apply to part of the club, 20% would be given to the Glazers. It also includes writing off nearly $1.7 billion in debt and establishing a fund to redevelop Old Trafford Stadium, its surrounds and training facility.
DAVID IN THE RACE
File photo, Portal
The National Union of Professional Footballers has released the list of nominees for the Best Player in Ligue 1 title, which includes LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David from Ottawa. He’s in good company with PSG’s Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, as well as Racing Club de Lens’s Seko Fofana and Loïs Openda. Mbappé is the current title holder. He won it three times.
BARÇA WILL DO EVERYTHING TO BRING MESSI BACK
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hinted that Barça will do everything they can to bring back Lionel Messi, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires next month and appears not to be renewed. It has to be said that fans have been chanting the name of Pulga during the club’s La Liga title celebrations in recent days. Messi was in Barca’s fold from 2000 to 2021 before taking charge of Paris.
games to watch
MLS
CF Montreal vs. red bulls
After a great six-game winning streak, Montreal will be looking to get back on a good streak after stumbling in Cincinnati midweek.
PREMIER LEAGUE
arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest
The Gunners are six points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea vs. Manchester City
Chelsea continue to struggle as the Cityzens look to maintain their lead.
A SERIES
Bologna vs. Cremonese
Joey Saputo’s other club is looking to break into the top 10 in Serie A and could make an interesting leap with a win-loss for the three clubs ahead of them, all of whom have two points more.