160-554: Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (PSG) is the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported teams in the world. Famous PSG fans include Nicolas Sarkozy , Tony Parker , Fabio Quartararo , Patrick Dempsey , Victoria Azarenka , Teddy Riner , DJ Snake , Michael Jordan , Kevin Durant , Victor Wembanyama and Luka Bošnjaković . Lacking a big passionate fanbase,
320-522: A 2–1 win at Sochaux . The hero was Ivorian striker Amara Diané who scored both goals that night. Despite not enjoying the star status of other current or past PSG greats, Diané is still considered a legend by most Parisian fans. After two years of solid progress and stability under the stewardship of manager Antoine Kombouaré and president Robin Leproux , the fortunes of Paris Saint-Germain changed dramatically when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) purchased
480-691: A Boulogne member exhibited a flag with a Celtic cross while surrounded by Auteuil fans, who then attacked him. He turned out to be an influential figure in the KoB and promised revenge on Auteuil. Members of Supras Auteuil were attacked by Boulogne hooligans in Lille in January 2010. Days later, during the next match against Monaco at the Parc des Princes, the KoB mocked Supras Auteuil by chanting "Supras, Supras, we fucked you." Unlike Tigris Mystic in 2005–06, though, Supras Auteuil had
640-422: A European title at 26 years of existence. The following season, PSG finished runners-up in the 1996 UEFA Super Cup and 1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final . On the domestic scene, results were just as satisfying, with Paris celebrating a second league title , three French Cups, two French League Cups and just as many French Super Cup wins. PSG then went into decline following years of mismanagement. In
800-1026: A Spanish word that was first used in Uruguay to refer to a single fan or supporter) or, exclusively in Brazil, torcida (plural of torcedor , which means 'supporter' in Portuguese) and fanaticada (plural of 'fan' in Portuguese). All of these terms are most commonly used to refer to the whole crowd of a team in the stadium and not just the groups within those crowds that lead the chants and display of choreographies and flags. These groups in particular are barras bravas in Argentina and torcidas organizadas in Brazil (where there are also barras bravas , but are less in comparison). Both (but especially barras bravas ) are organised supporters' groups that are not only focused on supporting their team and intimidating rivals, but also on antagonizing opposing fans, or defending (themselves and
960-415: A banner that read "The Future Belongs to Us." Subtly aimed at Boulogne, this message was a war declaration for KoB hooligans: Auteuil was the future, while Boulogne was the past. The power struggle that opposed PSG's first historical supporters of Boulogne against the newer ultras of Auteuil was just a cover for the real problem: the racial tension that had existed between the stands for many years. Suddenly,
1120-491: A blue shirt with a red vertical stripe flanked by two thinner white stripes (blue-white-red-white-blue). First worn in the 1973–74 season , the so-called "Hechter shirt" has remained the classic home identity of PSG ever since. The famous jersey made its debut during a home Ligue 2 game against Red Star on 10 November 1973. This was also the club's maiden match at the Parc des Princes . PSG won 3–1 as Othniel Dossevi scored
1280-668: A bulldog's head on top of the French flag, the KoB was mainly composed of three types of fans: Italian-style ultras (e.g. Boulogne Boys, Gavroches, Firebirds, Rangers, Tifo e Stupido, Sus Scrofa, Kaos and S.K.); English-inspired kopistes (e.g. Paris Assas Club, Head-Hunter, Génération Parisienne, Parc Kaos, Section Cigogne, Crazy Gang and Layache Family); and hooligans influenced by casual culture, far-right views and racist leanings (e.g. Commando Pirate, Pitbull Kop, Army Korps, Casual Firm, Indépendants Boulogne Rouge, Block B, Commando Loubard and Milice Paris). "The visiting team had just scored
1440-485: A core group (who tend to have executive control over the whole group), with smaller subgroups organised by location, friendship, or political stance. Supporters' groups tend to use various styles and sizes of banners and flags with the name and symbols of the group. Some supporters' groups sell their own merchandise such as scarves, hats, and jackets. The resulting culture is a mix of several supporting styles such as scarf-waving and chanting. A supporters' group can number from
1600-572: A few months after Canal+ sold the club to Colony Capital , things really began to fall apart when PSG fan Julien Quemener died. The Boulogne affiliate was among a large group of fans that racially harassed a Hapoel Tel Aviv supporter after the Israeli club defeated PSG at the Parc des Princes. A police officer intervened to help him and killed Quemener in self-defence. Following Quemener's death, more strict security measures were implemented, including stadium bans and police controls on matchdays. This led to
1760-421: A fight between groups from both stands outside the Parc des Princes, forcing PSG president Robin Leproux to take action. The club exiled the supporters' groups from the Parc des Princes and banned them from all PSG matches in what was known as Plan Leproux. It made PSG pay the price in terms of atmosphere, with one of Europe's most feared venues now subdued. For their part, former Virage Auteuil supporters formed
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#17331285179951920-555: A goal. While the Parisian team slowly walked to the middle of the field, the fans in the Kop of Boulogne cheered them on as if it had been PSG who had scored! The spectators had become supporters." Founded in 1985, Boulogne Boys was the KoB's first supporters' group. It was also PSG's first ultra group and one of the oldest of its kind in France, alongside Marseille's Commando Ultra (1984) and Nice 's Brigade Sud (1985). The group's distinctive trait
2080-539: A handful of fans to hundreds, and often claim entire sections of a stadium for themselves. According to a writer for Spiked , the four core points of the ultra mentality are: Supporters' groups usually have a representative who liaises with the club owners on a regular basis, mostly regarding tickets, seat allocations, and storage facilities. Some groups sell their own merchandise to raise funds for performing displays. Some clubs provide groups with cheaper tickets, storage rooms for flags, and banners and early access to
2240-513: A large number of fan clubs in France and worldwide, called PSG Fan Clubs. Grouped in the Auteuil end of the stadium, the CUP is the only ultra association officially recognized by PSG. It consists of four subgroups: K-Soce Team, Le Combat Continue, Parias Cohortis, Urban Paris, and Beriz Crew. The CUP share the stadium with Tribune Boulogne ultra groups Block Parisii and Résistance Parisienne (not recognized by
2400-563: A match that would determine the title. After Marseille won their fifth consecutive championship, Bernard Tapie and Marseille were found guilty of match-fixing, in what became known as the French football bribery scandal . The French Football Federation stripped Marseille of their title and offered it to second-placed PSG, who refused it because club owners Canal+ thought that claiming the trophy would anger their subscribers back in Marseille . As
2560-419: A new group, Auteuil Rouge, which became Grinta in 2009. With the disbanding of Tigris Mystic, PSG officials thought that peace would finally return. The reality, however, was that revenge and hatred had taken over the stadium; Boulogne and Auteuil could no longer stand each other. Tigris was gone but other Auteuil supporters had become violent as well, while racism in the KoB was out of control. In November 2006,
2720-654: A number of English supporters' groups located in Australia for premiership teams and championship teams. The Hornets Down Under are an example of a championship supporters' group. In Japan, supporters' sections are known as oendan and are prominent at baseball games and football matches. The supporters' group for the South Korea national football team is [[[Red Devils (supporters club)|Bulgeun Angma]]] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |script= ( help ) ( lit. 'Red Devils'). The India national football team has
2880-407: A popular chant among PSG supporters during games. A new version, also called "Allez Paris-Saint-Germain!", was recorded in 2010 as part of the club's 40th anniversary celebrations. Sung to the tune of " Go West " by Village People , the lyrics were rewritten with suggestions made by fans. This is the club's current official anthem. "Ô Ville Lumière" ( lit. ' Oh City of Light ' ), to
3040-479: A possible transfer to Real Madrid, which prompted La Liga officials to file a complaint to UEFA regarding accumulating losses of PSG in the previous years. Unsatisfied with the club direction and lack of European success club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi promised changes heading into next season and stated the team would not win the UEFA Champions League as currently constructed. Changes were needed at
3200-694: A reference within the Panorama Ultra Français (French Ultra Panorama or PUF). In April 1995, PSG met AC Milan at the Parc des Princes in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) semifinals. Before kickoff, Auteuil welcomed their players by unveiling a spectacular tifo, which was voted the "Best European Tifo" of the 1994–95 season by the Torcida International Fans Organization (TIFO). The tifo against Steaua Bucharest in August 1997
3360-409: A regular feature in the UEFA Champions League , reaching their first final in 2020 . PSG have the most consecutive seasons playing in France's top flight and are one of two French clubs to have won a major European title . They are the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported teams in the world. PSG's home kit colours are red, blue, and white, and their crest features
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#17331285179953520-455: A relative cease of fire between the two stands. They even fought together against Twente and Marseille hooligans in December 2008 and October 2009, respectively. Tensions, however, were slowly mounting again in the background. Supras Auteuil subgroup K-Soce Team was born in 2007. Brandishing flags of Algeria and Palestine , they embodied the growing politicization and left-wing radicalization of
3680-577: A result, the 1992–93 title remained unattributed, with Canal+ even refused letting the capital club participate in next year's UEFA Champions League after UEFA excluded Marseille from the competition. Instead, Monaco , who finish third in Ligue 1 took the Champions League spot instead. Considered the club's golden era, the Parisians won nine trophies and reached five consecutive European semi-finals during
3840-517: A score of 4–0. In response, PSG signed Neymar for a world-record fee of €222 million and French prodigy Kylian Mbappé on an initial loan, which was made permanent in 2018 in a transfer worth €180 million plus add-ons, making him both the second- most expensive player and most expensive teenager. The capital club reclaimed the Ligue 1 title and also won the Trophée des Champions, the Coupe de la Ligue and
4000-583: A second league title, three French Cups, two French League Cups , two French Super Cups and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996. After suffering a decline in fortunes during the 2000s, the Red and Blues have enjoyed a revival since 2011 when they were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments . With considerable financial investment, the team has achieved unparalleled dominance in domestic competitions, winning multiple league titles and national cups. PSG have also become
4160-450: A shock 3–1 defeat at home to Manchester United after winning the first leg 2–0 at Old Trafford . This season, they also won the Ligue 1 for the 8th time in their history, but lost in the Coupe de France Final against Rennes . PSG were eliminated from the Coupe de la Ligue in embarrassing fashion, as they lost 2–1 at home to Guingamp in the quarterfinals. In the 2019–20 season , PSG won
4320-662: A supporters' group called the Blue Pilgrims . They were formed with a motive to support the national team and the U-17 team during the 2017 U17 World Cup held in India . Mariners' Base Camp and East Bengal Ultras are the ultras fan group of Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC respectively, two of the oldest football clubs in Asia. Derbies of the two clubs called as Kolkata Derby often witness record breaking spectator, one such moment
4480-624: Is 'beyond' the normal. In the Anglosphere , these groups are generally known as "supporters' groups". Most groups in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia call themselves "supporters' groups"; however, some do self-identify as ultras, particularly in communities with large Spanish, French, or Italian speaking populations. In Mexico, they are called porras , while in South America they are called either hinchada (plural of hincha ,
4640-483: Is Brazil, where the clubs have active supporter' groups named torcidas organizadas , who play a similar role to the barras bravas . However, the southern part of Brazil, in the south part of Santa Catarina and in all Rio Grande do Sul , contrary to the rest of the country, the supporter groups are barras bravas . In Europe, there are primarily three types of groups: official supporter groups, ultras , and hooligan firms . Official supporter groups primary function
4800-640: Is Paris!") in 1997, becoming a trademark of PSG games at the Parc des Princes. In 2001, the Auteuil stand became "too small" and a new generation wishing to follow the Ultra model of Virage Auteuil settled in the neighboring stand: the G section of the Paris stand. The first group, Authentiks, appeared in January 2002 and grew very quickly. They were joined by another ultra group, Puissance Paris, in 2003. It all changed in May 2003, when Tigris Mystic celebrated their 10th anniversary with
4960-474: Is Socceroos Active Support (SAS). SAS was founded in January 2015 as an independent group, that uses social media to organise and keep in touch. This replaced the former active support group Terrace Australis, who were founded by the FFA and fans in 2013, during Australia's 2014 World Cup qualification campaign . Its establishment came in the wake of poor off-field action and minimal community engagement. Previously,
Paris Saint-Germain F.C. supporters - Misplaced Pages Continue
5120-553: Is known as " The Burrow ". Their active supporter group is known as "Gate38" and is made up of young men who were involved in the "scumgate" scandal in 2013. The Rabbitohs also have a large supporter base in Perth , where they rival the Fremantle Dockers in supporter size. The official New South Wales rugby league team supporter group is known as "Blatchy's Blues". The official Queensland rugby league team supporter group
5280-513: Is known as "Maroon Crusade". The official Gold Coast Titans supporter group is known as "The Legion". The official Canberra Raiders supporter group is known as "The Greenhouse". The Brisbane Broncos have the largest fan base of any NRL club and they have been voted the most popular rugby league team in Australia for several years. A Broncos supporters' group called "The Thoroughbreds", made up of prominent businessmen, made an unsuccessful bid to purchase News Ltd's controlling share of
5440-472: Is most concentrated in its homeland in the affluent eastern suburbs, the club is also popular in South East Queensland , Canberra and Newcastle . The club has an internet message board for supporters, "The Wall", which has been the official forum since 1999. The club has announced that "The Wall" will be closing as of late January 2012. "The Chookpen" is an unofficial site. In 2013 the club tallied
5600-562: Is that Hechter based his creation on the red-and-white jersey worn by Ajax , the dominant team in Europe at the time, but with the French flag in mind. Hechter himself has denied this, though, instead claiming he was inspired by the Ford Mustang . He transposed the car's hood stripes on the shirt and employed the three colours of the club. The Hechter shirt has two alternate versions: the "reversed Hechter" (red-white-blue-white-red), introduced in
5760-513: Is the Parc des Princes , located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris near the Boulogne-Billancourt commune. The Parisians were founded in 1970, following the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain . PSG won their first major honour, the French Cup , in 1982 and their first Division 1 title in 1986. The 1990s was among the most successful periods in the club's history; they claimed
5920-450: Is to liaise with the club board and protects supporter interest as well as have a say in the running of the clubs, and they usually represent all types of supporters of all ages ranging from fanatical supporters, to disabled supporters, to supporters who rarely frequent games, however they are still an independent body. The oldest of which is Torcida founded in 1950 as supporters of Hajduk Split from Croatia. Ultras groups are independent of
6080-431: The 1974–75 season , and the "white Hechter" (white-blue-red-blue-white), which premiered in the 1994–95 season. It was with the club's most iconic away outfit, though, that fans saw the first big PSG team which won their maiden French Cup titles in 1982 and 1983, experienced their first European campaign in 1983, and claimed their maiden Ligue 1 crown in 1986. The shirt was white with blue and red vertical stripes on
6240-477: The Eiffel Tower and a fleur-de-lis . The team has a longstanding rivalry with Marseille , against whom they contest Le Classique . Since 2011, Paris Saint-Germain have been majority-owned by Qatari government-backed investment fund Qatar Sports Investments , which currently holds 87.5% of the shares. American investment firm Arctos Partners owns the remaining 12.5%. PSG are the richest club in France and one of
6400-590: The Football Supporters' Federation . Also In England and Wales only, Supporters Direct are an umbrella organization promoting fan-ownership. For example. Leeds United has a number of supporters groups representing people with protected characteristics which include Punjabi Whites. LGBT fan group inclusion in Leeds United . There are also numerous hooligan firms in Britain , also known as casuals in itself
6560-475: The Parc des Princes , Nambatingue Toko opened the scoring for PSG following a good cross from Ivica Šurjak . Saint-Étienne reacted and Platini equalized to send the game to extra-time. Platini then doubled his personal account, giving the Greens the lead. The Parc des Princes faithful no longer believed in their team when Dominique Rocheteau , after yet another assist from Šurjak, scored an unexpected equalizer in
Paris Saint-Germain F.C. supporters - Misplaced Pages Continue
6720-449: The Parc des Princes , in the hands of their estranged Parisian brothers. Since then, the Parc has been the home of PSG. With promotion to Division 1 also came a change of command. Daniel Hechter , then chairman of the management committee, took over as club president in June 1974 following the resignation of Patrelle. He named Francis Borelli as vice-president. Under Hechter's tenure,
6880-503: The Parc des Princes , thus achieving promotion to Division 1 and regaining its professional status abandoned two years earlier. Overwhelmed by emotion, Fontaine collapsed on the lawn and was then carried by the players in celebration. Since then, PSG have always played in the first tier of French football. PSG played their first game at the Parc des Princes during this campaign. It was against fellow Parisian side Red Star on 10 November 1973. PSG won 3–1 and Othniel Dossevi scored
7040-636: The Stade Jean-Bouin , the Stade Georges Lefèvre , the Stade Bauer , the Stade Yves-du-Manoir , and the Parc des Princes , their current home ground. PSG took on Ligue 2 promotion rivals Red Star on November 10, 1973, for the club's first match at the Parc des Princes. It was the curtain-raiser for that season's opening Ligue 1 match between Paris FC and Sochaux . PSG moved into
7200-722: The Tournoi de Paris and the Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy . Regarded as French football's most prestigious friendly tournament, the Tournoi de Paris is considered a precursor of both the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup . PSG began hosting it in 1975 and were crowned champions a record seven times. Held at the Parc des Princes , the Tournoi de Paris was last organized in 2012. The Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy
7360-408: The fleur de lys in white is a hint to the coat of arms of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The fleur de lys is a royal symbol as well and recalls that French King Louis XIV was born in the town. Throughout its history, PSG have brandished several crests, but all of them have featured the club's three historical colours. Likewise, PSG's most iconic shirts have been predominantly red, blue or white, with
7520-480: The 1990s, including their first UEFA Champions League last-four appearance and two at the same stage of the UEFA Cup . PSG's crowning glory came in the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final with legend Luis Fernandez now as coach. Bruno Ngotty scored the only goal of the match to defeat Rapid Wien and make Paris the second French club to ever clinch a major European tournament and the youngest club in history to win
7680-421: The 1990s. "Ici, c'est Paris!" and "Paris est magique!" are also the club's most iconic mottos. " Who Said I Would " by Phill Collins is also a traditional anthem for the fans. The song has accompanied the players' entry into the field since 1992. During their first three seasons of existence, the home shirt of Paris Saint-Germain was red with blue and white details in its sleeves and neck to bring together
7840-472: The 2011–12 season, Qatar bought PSG through Qatar Sports Investments . Attendance levels soared thanks to big-money signings like Javier Pastore and a promising Champions League project to make PSG a big European team. Liberté Pour les Abonnés welcomed the Qatari owners and their efforts, but maintained that a big club was nothing without their fanbase. Between 2010 and 2016, with the impossibility of supporting
8000-473: The 2013–14 season, before claiming an unprecedented national quadruple (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions) twice in a row in 2014–15 and 2015–16, winning the latter with a record-breaking 96 points, becoming the only first French men's team to achieve that feat. Fresh from three consecutive UEFA Europa League titles with Sevilla , Unai Emery was hired by PSG for his European pedigree. But with star player Ibrahimović gone,
8160-490: The Auteuil stand, antagonizing with that of Boulogne. Like Tigris Mystic before them, K-Soce Team responded to the racism in the stadium by clashing with Boulogne hooligans. Politicians had long been looking for a scapegoat and finally found it when Boulogne Boys outraged France in March 2008 during the 2008 Coupe de la Ligue Final . They unfurled a banner which referred to Lens fans as pedophiles, jobless and incestuous. The banner
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#17331285179958320-717: The Bulldogs Army is to show support and passion for the Bulldogs. As the region's traditional local representatives, the Bulldogs predominantly draw on a support base in and around the suburbs of Canterbury and Bankstown in south-western Sydney , although in recent years club administration and home matches have relocated to Sydney Olympic Park . The Bulldogs are the most supported NRL club in regional NSW – over 25% of Bulldog fans are located in regional NSW, over 25% are located outside of NSW and over 10% are located in QLD. The club has one of
8480-413: The Champions League continued in 2021 with a second consecutive semi-final appearance, a first for the club. Domestically, PSG won the Coupe de France, but failed to retain the Ligue 1 title, finishing one point behind Lille , losing the league for the second time in four years. During the 2021 summer transfer season, PSG completed one of the most historic transfer windows in football history, exercising
8640-623: The Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) in February 2016, with the aim of reclaiming their place at the stadium. In October 2016, after a six-year absence, the club agreed to their return. Grouped in the Auteuil end of the stadium, the CUP currently is the only ultra association officially recognized by PSG. The ultra movement has also started to come back to life in the Boulogne stand. New groups Block Parisii and Résistance Parisienne are trying to convince
8800-420: The Coupe de France, clinching the domestic quadruple for the third time in four seasons. Despite their massive expenditure, in the Champions League, PSG lost to Real Madrid in the round of 16, leading Unai Emery to leave the club at the end of the season. In May 2018, Thomas Tuchel signed a two-year contract with PSG. Paris Saint-Germain again fell in the Champions League round of 16 in 2018–19 , suffering
8960-992: The Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club is the 'parent company' of the Easts Group. The Football Club delegates, however, overarching responsibility for both football and leagues club operations to a single general manager who oversees the whole group's performance. The leagues club group provides financial support to the football club, only where necessary, as in recent years the football club's sponsorships and TV revenues are generally covering most Rugby League expenditures. Port Adelaide Football Club has many supporter groups , with every state or territory containing at least one supporter group. In addition, many country towns within South Australia have their own supporter group, many of which travel to both home and away games. There are also
9120-667: The Georges Lefèvre and the Parc des Princes. PSG played at the Stade de Paris, today known as Stade Bauer, for the first time during the 1971–72 season. It was used again by the club once in 1976–77 and 1977–78 , and twice in 1978–79 due to construction work on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. Similarly, the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, as its officially called, welcomed PSG for three matches in 1971–72, once more in 1974–75 , and one last time in 1975–76 because
9280-503: The Italian ultra culture. Auteuil ultras made use of banners, flares, chants and other expressions of tifo, which means organized and choreographed support of the team. Symbolically, they referred to the stand as Virage Auteuil. "Virage" is the French equivalent for the Italian word "curva." Supras Auteuil, the stand's biggest group, summed up this philosophy; Supras is the contraction of "SUPporters" and "ultRAS." Virage Auteuil gradually became
9440-412: The KoB stand to take place in the Auteuil stand at the other end of the Parc des Princes. The Virage Auteuil was born, alongside Supras Auteuil, its most notorious ultras. At first the measure worked but, slowly, a violent rivalry arose between the two stands. Things came to a head in 2010 before a match against Le Classique arch-rivals Marseille in Paris. Boulogne fan Yann Lorence was killed following
9600-540: The Lebanese and the Greek community, particularly with the club's former star goalkicker Hazem El Masri , being a Lebanese immigrant who migrated from Lebanon as a young child. The Greek community has a huge history of Greeks playing for the club dating back to the 1970s with club legend George Peponis , being a Greek immigrant who migrated from Greece as a very young child who captained the Bulldogs and Australia. El Masri retired at
9760-513: The Ligue 1 for the 9th time in their history, despite the season ending prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic , and also reclaimed the Coupe de France defeating Saint-Étienne in the final and won the last-ever Coupe de la Ligue defeating Lyon in a penalty shootout. In the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League , PSG reached the semi-finals for the second time since 1995, after a last minute 2–1 win over Atalanta , before losing to Bayern Munich 1–0 in
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#17331285179959920-645: The Members' Stand on the western side of the ground, and season ticket holders are located just beneath the Members' area, in Bays 12–14. In 2014, the Roosters had nearly 17,000 paying members, in addition to the 45,550 members of the Roosters' Leagues Club, which is the major benefactor of the football club. The Easts Leagues Club and the Sydney Roosters "operate as one entity" known as the Easts Group. Under this arrangement,
10080-494: The PFC crest kept its original design but the name below it changed from "Paris FC" to "Paris Saint-Germain Football Club." This badge consisted of a blue football with a red vessel inside it. The latter is a historic symbol of Paris and is present in the city's coat of arms. The name of the club was written below in red. PSG, however, split from PFC in 1972 and thus needed a new crest. Representing both Paris and Saint-Germain-en-Laye ,
10240-415: The Parc as Paris FC had been relegated that same year. On 13 August 1974, PSG recorded a 2–2 draw against Metz in front of nearly 14,000 spectators during their maiden home match in the top-flight. The club's oldest active supporters' group , Le Club des Amis du PSG (The Club of Friends of PSG), was founded in January 1975. Its members settled in the Paris stand with a banner: "The Spirit Club." Back then,
10400-499: The Parc des Princes was under renovation. Supporters%27 groups A supporters' group or supporters' club is an independent fan club or campaign group in sport, mostly association football . Supporters' groups in continental Europe are generally known as ultras , which derives from the Latin word ultrā, meaning beyond in English, with the implication that their enthusiasm
10560-473: The Parc des Princes, Francis Borelli, who had been vice-president until then, became the new boss of the Île-de-France club. Following the arrival of manager Georges Peyroche in November 1979, the club established itself as a top-half team and then welcomed its first major honour when the Parisians reached their first French Cup final in 1982. Up against the great Saint-Étienne of Michel Platini at
10720-619: The Paris stand. Implemented in May 2010, Plan Leproux marked the end of the 13,000 supporters grouped in Auteuil and Boulogne, of which only 400 were hooligans. It made PSG and the Parc des Princes pay the price in terms of atmosphere, with one of Europe's most feared venues now subdued. Many of the supporters who were frozen out by the club formed a group called Liberté Pour les Abonnés (Freedom for Season Ticket Holders) and boycotted matches until they could again choose where to sit. The club, meanwhile, continued its reformation of Auteuil and Boulogne, removing murals and commemorative plaques made by
10880-414: The Paris stand. PSG president Robin Leproux began to work on an anti-violence plan called Tous PSG (All PSG) in May 2010. It became known as Plan Leproux. Auteuil groups Lutèce Falco, Kriek and Karsud organized a peaceful march in response. On 15 May 2010, around 1,000 supporters descended on the Parc des Princes before the club's last match of the 2009–10 season against Montpellier that same day. During
11040-527: The Parisians failed to win any silverware in the 1970s but began their tradition of brilliant Coupe de France runs, established themselves in Division 1, and attracted several prestigious players, including Jean-Pierre Dogliani , Mustapha Dahleb and Carlos Bianchi . After Hechter was banned for life from football by the French Football Federation in January 1978, for running a ticketing scheme at
11200-520: The Stade Georges Lefèvre. The Jean-Bouin was privileged given that it drew significantly greater levels of fan support. The Georges Lefèvre regularly hosted PSG matches from 1972 to 1974 as well. Between 1904 and 1970, it was the home of Stade Saint-Germain , club which merged with Paris FC to form PSG in 1970. PSG played again at the Jean-Bouin in 1973–74 , alternating their home games with
11360-399: The Virage Auteuil roster. In the same way they had been doing at Boulogne since 1973, players began to warm up at Auteuil as well to show their appreciation for the fans there. The measure worked; violence bottomed, while attendance steadily grew, peaking in 2000. Even though Auteuil was a way for the club to fight against racism, it proved to be a mistake in the long run. Rather than kick out
11520-427: The arrivals of Edinson Cavani in 2013 for a league record of €64 million, making it the sixth largest transfer in history and David Luiz in 2014 for a £50 million transfer fee, a world-record transfer for a defender. Despite the departure of Ancelotti, PSG kept its winning ways under Laurent Blanc . The club secured a maiden domestic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions ) in
11680-611: The attendance levels, new owners Canal+ backed the creation of the Virage Auteuil in 1991. Before this date, Auteuil was mainly composed of casual spectators and away fans despite the presence of PSG fan group Auteuil Fanatics in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Encouraged and financed by the club, Supras Auteuil, Lutèce Falco and Incorrigibles Gaulois were the first ultra groups of the new stand. They were soon joined by Sus Scrofa in 1992, then by Dragon's, Tigris Mystic, Titans, Kaos and S.K. in 1993. Karsud in 1994 and Kriek in 1999 completed
11840-511: The backbone of the team. The victory away to Toulouse on Matchday 3 meant PSG sat at the top of the table for the first time ever, a spot they never relinquished, going a memorable 26 matches without defeat towards the title. The follow-up to the league title was not as glorious though. Defending champions PSG finished the league in seventh place , suffered an early exit from the French Cup and were knocked out by Czech minnows Vítkovice in
12000-624: The backing of his bosses, who pulled the plug on the security plan and fired him. The conflict resumed immediately afterwards and incidents occurred wherever PSG played during the 2005–06 season. In October 2005, Casual Firm hooligans thrashed the headquarters of Tigris Mystic, to which the latter responded by attacking a group of Boulogne hooligans in February 2006. Racism in the Kop of Boulogne had become intolerable that campaign and other Virage Auteuil ultras began to denounce it, vocally following Tigris Mystic when they sang " La Marseillaise " while brandishing their French identity card. In spite of this,
12160-421: The beginning of Le Classique , the rivalry between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille , as both teams battled each other on the field for the 1992–93 French Division 1 crown. PSG finished runners-up after losing both games against Marseille. In the second match between the two clubs, only three days after winning the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League , league leaders Marseille welcomed closest challengers PSG in
12320-408: The brand "Paris" instead of "Paris Saint-Germain". Underneath it, "Saint-Germain" is written in smaller letters below the fleur de lys . The cradle and the club's founding year "1970" were left out. PSG deputy general manager Jean-Claude Blanc said: "We are called Paris Saint-Germain but, above all, we are called Paris". Paris Saint-Germain used to host two very famous invitational competitions:
12480-411: The capital club since 1974. The pitch of the stadium is surrounded by four covered all-seater stands, officially known as Tribune Borelli, Tribune Auteuil, Tribune Paris and Tribune Boulogne. Historically, PSG's most hardcore fans have occupied the Auteuil and Boulogne stands. Boulogne Boys, Supras Auteuil and the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) have been the club's most famous supporters' groups. PSG also has
12640-473: The city of Paris and the nearby royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye . As a result, red, blue and white are the club's traditional colours. The red and blue are Parisian colours, a nod to revolutionary figures Lafayette and Jean Sylvain Bailly , and the white is a symbol of French royalty and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. On the club's crest, the Eiffel Tower in red and the blue background represent Paris, while
12800-540: The clashes outside the Parc des Princes were largely between hooligans of the same team, unlike anywhere else in Europe. One side of the ring featured Boulogne hooligan firms Casual Firm, Commando Loubard and Milice Paris whose members were far-right, white supremacists looking to "rid the suburbs of blacks and Arabs." The other side featured some members of Auteuil multiethnic group Tigris Mystic, whose initially peaceful anti-racist and left-wing ultras chose to fight back. They had begun clashing with hooligans from other teams at
12960-409: The club became better known for lurching from one high-profile crisis to another. The French premium television channel sold the club to Colony Capital in 2006. The situation, however, only got worse and PSG spent the 2006–07 and 2007–08 campaigns staving off relegations. The latter was the most dramatic. Marred by poor results and fan violence, Paris avoided the drop on the final match after
13120-680: The club began offering cheaper season tickets to young supporters in 1976. These fans were placed in the Kop K, located in the K section of the Paris stand at the Parc des Princes . Following an increase in ticket prices, Kop K supporters moved to the Boulogne stand in 1978, and the Kop of Boulogne (KoB) was born. There, the club's first Italian-style ultra group, Boulogne Boys, was founded in 1985. Other KoB groups, however, took British hooligans as dubious role models and violence rapidly escalated. PSG supporters' groups have been linked to football hooliganism ever since. PSG owners Canal+ responded in 1991 by encouraging and financing non-violent fans of
13280-407: The club endured a disappointing 2016–17 season. Paris were pipped to the Ligue 1 title by Monaco, missing out on top spot for the first time in five years. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, the club suffered several disappointing nights, including "La Remontada" ("The Comeback") against Barcelona , losing 6–1 in the second leg of the round of sixteen , despite winning the first leg in France by
13440-494: The club in 2007. The Bulldogs Army is the core support group for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs , with the section they sit within known as 'The Kennel'. To be sitting in this section, supporters must become a member of the club itself and register any large flags and/or banners which are brought to the game. At all away games the Bulldogs Army locates themselves in the general admission section. The main aim of
13600-443: The club in 2011. The takeover made PSG not only the richest club in France but one of the wealthiest in the world. Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi pledged to form a team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League and making the club France's biggest name. Club legend Leonardo was brought back in as sporting director and oversaw a spending spree in summer 2011 that has so far been unprecedented in Ligue 1 history, including
13760-442: The club match tickets. Hooligan firms are largely restricted to a secretive sub-culture , due to the illegal nature of their activity. As they mostly socialise with other hooligans, they therefore have little contact with other sets of supporters. In the past, the distinction between ultras and hooligans was blurred, with the majority being considered both. Due to the increase in condemnation and punishment of hooligan activity,
13920-416: The club of relaunching the Kop of Boulogne. Since 2018, Paris Saint-Germain have been the most popular football club in France, with 22% of fans identifying as Parisians. Marseille comes second with 20%, while Lyon is third with 14%. PSG is also one of the most widely supported teams with 35 million supporters worldwide, more than any other French club. The Parc des Princes has been the home stadium of
14080-407: The club on a very deep level and as such during the pre season for the 2022–23 season the club embarked on an ambitious rebuild. This began with the hiring of transfer market expert Luís Campos who made his name at Monaco first and then Lille. A change in club ethos was noted, and was followed by the sacking of first team coach Pochettino, while an announcement for the hiring of Christophe Galtier
14240-503: The club's budget from 90 to 120 million francs in order to build a strong squad for the 1991–92 season. The revolution began with the appointment of renowned coach Artur Jorge , famous for leading Porto to the 1986–87 European Cup trophy. The club then embarked on a spending spree, signing Brazilian stars Ricardo and Valdo as well as proven French players Paul Le Guen , Laurent Fournier , Patrick Colleter and prolific Liberian striker George Weah . The 1992–93 season also marked
14400-407: The club's debt and save its place in the elite, demanding PSG in return to adopt the more Parisian name "Paris Football Club." Crescent, who had replaced Guyot as club president before the start of the season, was in favor of the name change, but Patrelle was against it. The disagreement led to Crescent's resignation in December 1971, handing the presidency to Patrelle. The latter tried to persuade
14560-587: The club's first ever goal from a free-kick. The club went on to clinch promotion to Division 1 and claim the Division 2 title in its inaugural season . PSG's first top-flight season ended with a safe 16th place , meaning they would stay in Division 1 next year, but behind the scenes the club was in a delicate financial situation. Back in September 1971, the Paris City Council offered 850k francs to pay
14720-525: The club's first goal at the stadium as well as the first with the Hechter shirt. PSG stars from the 1990s and 2000s like Raí , Ronaldinho and Pauleta are associated with this kit. While wearing it, the capital club reached five European semi-finals in a row between 1993 and 1997, claimed the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and achieved eight consecutive wins against Le Classique arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille between 2002 and 2004. The general belief
14880-409: The club's first goal at the stadium. The Parisians also began their tradition of brilliant Coupe de France runs, reaching the quarterfinals after beating Metz at the Parc in front of 25,000 spectators (2–1; 4–1 on aggregate). In an ironic turn of events, Paris FC were relegated to Division 2 at the same time as Paris Saint-Germain moved up to the top flight in 1974, leaving their home stadium,
15040-604: The club's first in Ligue 1 , PSG faced Lille in January 1972 as both sides battled to avoid relegation. PSG won 3–1 with the 1,200 socios in attendance unfurling a banner that read "PSG salutes Lille! Long live football and may the best one win!" But the club split shortly after and PSG were administratively relegated to Division 3 . Paris FC stayed in Ligue 1 and an overwhelming majority of socios preferred to support them. In consequence, Le Club des Associés ceased to exist as well. PSG still had some supporters, though. They surprised
15200-501: The club's first supporters. As such, they founded Le Club des Associés (The Club of Socios ) to organize travels for PSG home and away matches. It was PSG and France's first supporters' group . More than 2,000 socios attended the club's first match ever on 1 August 1970. It was a friendly against Quevilly (1–3 loss) at the Stade Jean-Bouin . After PSG's 2–1 win over Brest in the 1970–71 French Division 2 in October 1970, players from
15360-613: The club's handball team. Unlike some fans who decided to cheer for other Parisian clubs such as Paris FC or Créteil , Liberté Pour les Abonnés and Nautecia noticed there wasn't much enthusiasm around the women and chose to stay with PSG by supporting them in France and abroad, from league clashes against rivals Lyon to the Women's Champions League semifinals versus Wolfsburg and the grand finale in Berlin , where they narrowly lost to Eintracht Frankfurt (2–1). A marriage of convenience at first,
15520-435: The club's home stadium, appeared below it between 1982 and 1990. The stadium was dropped from the crest in 1990. Two years later, then club owners Canal+ radically changed it in 1992. The new model had the acronym "PSG" in white against a blue-white-red-white-blue background (like the colour pattern of the Hechter shirt) with "Paris Saint-Germain" underneath in white against a black background. Under pressure from supporters,
15680-417: The club's second crest became the basis of the one the fans know today. The round logo featured the Eiffel Tower in red against a blue background and, underneath it, two Saint-Germain symbols in white: a fleur de lys and Louis XIV 's cradle. Created by Christian Lentretien, former PSG board member and publicist by profession, this crest was first used in 1972 and lasted until 1982. The Parc des Princes ,
15840-547: The club), PSG Junior Club at the Tribune Borelli, and Tribune Paris groups Le Club des Amis du PSG, PSG Grand Sud, and Handicap PSG. Other active groups include former CUP subgroup Karsud, who have been banned from the Parc des Princes since 2017. During their first three years of existence, Paris Saint-Germain were fan-owned and had 14,820 socios (members), who paid an annual fee of 25 to 40 francs (4 to 6 euros). The socios were
16000-608: The club; however, they too are frequently supported by the club as they cater to the majority of the most vocal and committed supporters, producing atmosphere and encouraging the players. However, frequent tensions also arise, due to often vocal and pro-active criticism of management or players and the illegality of some their actions, such as graffiti and lighting pyrotechnics during matches. Many ultras groups, to maintain their independence and raise money, run their own shops selling supporter merchandise, most commonly clothing such as supporter scarves , and sometimes in collaboration with
16160-505: The council to reconsider their position, but they remained inflexible and the club split on 1 June 1972, a few days after the last match of the campaign. Backed by the council, Crescent re-formed Paris FC and remained in Division 1, while the PSG of Patrelle were administratively relegated to Division 3 , thus losing professional status. Paris Saint-Germain really took flight with the arrival of fashion designer Daniel Hechter as chairman of
16320-486: The divide has become increasingly visible, however for some groups, especially groups who support smaller teams and therefore have less members, this divide is still very much blurred; some groups have started using the label hooltras . Most supporters' groups are not only officially endorsed by the affiliated club, but also recognised on the club's website and hold regular meetings at the stadium. In England and Wales, nearly all official supporter groups are affiliated with
16480-649: The emergence of Terrace Australis saw the Green and Gold Army relinquish its role as a hub for active support, which it had claimed since its establishment in 2001. The main supporter group of the Australia national rugby league team is The Roo Crew. The supporters of the New Zealand national football team are known as the 'White Noise', a play on the All Whites nickname. The official South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter group
16640-491: The end of the 2009 season. The Melbourne Storm 's supporter base grew from almost 500,000 in 2004 to almost 800,000 in 2009, making them the fourth most popular rugby team. The club's supporter group, the "Graveyard Crew", make an Aussie-rules -(AFL) style banner for the team to run through in important matches. The Sydney Roosters have a strong support base across Australia. Aside from its traditional fan base in Sydney, which
16800-511: The entire stadium. Sometimes, small sheets of plastic or paper are held aloft to form a pattern, or to colour the stadium. Such a display is called a "mosaic" or "card display". Other materials used in certain types of displays include balloons, streamers, huge banners, flares, smoke bombs, and at times, giant dolls. Popular culture icons are often used on banners. Corporate brand logos and catchphrases are also often used. The displays, which can be expensive to make, often take months to prepare. All of
16960-472: The expiration of his contract, and promising defender Nuno Mendes on an initial loan, which was made permanent in 2022. Later in the season, PSG went on to reclaim the Ligue 1 title for the record 10th time, but fell short in the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid in the round of 16, a tie amplified by the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappé's future. However, on 21 May 2022, Mbappé extended his contract with PSG until 2025, despite speculations of
17120-511: The famous Spion Kop stand in Anfield that groups the supporters of Liverpool . Kop K went from 500 subscribers against Reims in September 1976 to 3,000 members in early 1977. Following an increase in ticket prices in 1978, Kop K supporters moved to the Boulogne stand and the Kop K became the Kop of Boulogne (KoB). PSG players had been warming up there since 1973, so the supporters were logically invested in being closer to their idols. United under
17280-456: The final in Lisbon , with former PSG player Kingsley Coman scoring the only goal. Tuchel's tenure at Paris Saint-Germain was marred by a fractured relationship with the club's hierarchy, leading him to be dismissed on 24 December, despite placing top of their Champions League group. On 2 January 2021, former PSG player Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as the new head coach. PSG's good form in
17440-438: The first round of a disappointing European Cup debut . The following year, PSG avoided relegation on the final match of the 1987–88 season thanks to a dramatic 0–1 win away to Le Havre . Highly indebted, the club briefly bounced back, fighting for the 1988–89 league crown with Marseille , before going into decline. The takeover by television giants Canal+ in 1991 revitalised Paris Saint-Germain as they became one of
17600-740: The fourth-highest home attendance of all National Rugby League clubs (behind the Brisbane Broncos ) with an average of 19,368 spectators at the Sydney Football Stadium . At the club's home ground, the Sydney Football Stadium, the supporters congregate in distinct sections. The "Chook Pen", a designated area in Bay 35, is the preferred location for the most animated fans. Members of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust are seated in
17760-609: The game, groups from Auteuil and Boulogne displayed one last act of defiance, throwing hundreds of red distress flares to the pitch, forcing play to be halted for several minutes. Lutèce Falco also unfurled a banner which simply stated "This Is The End." For twelve of these groups this was their last appearance at the stadium as they decided to disband afterwards due to intense repression and media persecution: Casual Firm, Gavroches, Layache, Paris Assas Club, Rangers, Section Cigogne and Tifo e Stupido from Boulogne; Kriek, Lutèce Falco and Titans from Auteuil; Brigade Paris and Puissance Paris from
17920-452: The ground upon its return to Ligue 1 in July 1974, ironically the same year that Paris FC were relegated. Up until that point it had hosted Paris FC, who showed reluctance towards PSG playing there. From that moment on, the Parc des Princes has been the home stadium of PSG. Its most prolific season in terms of average attendance is 2019–20 , during which an average of 47,517 spectators went to
18080-413: The highest average attendances in the league: over the 2010 season , it was one of only two clubs to record an average home crowd of more than 20,000. The multicultural demographics of the suburbs in the club's support base, such as Lakemba , means the club has a large number of supporters from a range of non-Anglo ethnicities. In recent years the club has become particularly identified in the media with
18240-418: The highly politicized Boulogne. Members of Boulogne Boys left the group in 1986 and created Gavroches that same year. Gavroches and Rangers were ultras as well but inspired by real English kopistes, with sheer vocal volume and scarf-waving as their chief medium for support. They would mainly make use of flags, flares and chants like "Le Parc est à nous" ("The Parc is ours"), which were battle cries to intimidate
18400-473: The last seconds of the match. PSG fans invaded the field in joy, while club president Francis Borelli kneeled and kissed the lawn of the Parc. Following an interruption of 30 minutes, the penalty shootout sealed PSG's coronation. Dominique Baratelli stopped Saint-Étienne's last attempt and Jean-Marc Pilorget scored the winning penalty for the capital side. This success opened the doors to Europe, where PSG made an impressive continental debut in reaching
18560-509: The left. Like the Hechter jersey, it debuted in the 1973–74 season as the away kit. Promoted by PSG president Francis Borelli , the white shirt was the club's home identity from 1981 to 1990. Now known as the "Borelli shirt," it is synonym with PSG legends from the 1980s like Safet Sušić , Luis Fernández and Dominique Bathenay . The club's first crest was basically the same as the original Paris FC (PFC) logo. Having to merge and give birth to PSG using Stade Saint-Germain 's stadium,
18720-464: The main supporter' groups. Similar to hooligan firms and ultras , the phenomenon originated in Argentina in the 1950s, but it has spread throughout most of the region during the following decades. This gang-like groups coordinate chants (which accompany playing bass drums and, less, trumpets) and display choreographies (like throw balloons, confetti, smoke bombs and firecrackers when their team goes out to
18880-426: The majority of people attending the Parc des Princes were casual spectators or away supporters, and the stadium was only full when Paris faced prestigious sides like Saint-Étienne, Nantes , Marseille or Reims . In response, the club put in place a subscription plan called Young PSG Supporters in 1976, placing its subscribers in the K section, the first fan-dedicated space at the Parc. They named it Kop K in reference to
19040-548: The management committee in June 1973. Besides offering his financial support to the club, he also designed the team's classic home outfit. Hechter then shocked the national game ahead of 1973–74 by appointing French legend Just Fontaine as sporting director. Robert Vicot 's men finished second in Group B , four points behind Red Star , qualifying for the promotion play–offs against Valenciennes . PSG lost 1–2 away to Valenciennes, but PSG recorded an incredible 4–2 comeback at
19200-644: The men's team at home or away, the ultras turned to Paris Saint-Germain Féminine , and to a lesser extent to the Paris Saint-Germain Academy sides, being the very rare case of fan groups attending games of their club's women's team. Liberté Pour les Abonnés and Nautecia, which were among several groups that reunited Boulogne and Auteuil supporters, were behind this initiative. PSG ultras have also occasionally attended big matches of Paris Saint-Germain Handball ,
19360-511: The new coach and Francis Graille the new president. The club's form dwindled as they slipped further down the table and eventually, a split from owners Canal+ became inevitable. At the start of the 21st century, PSG struggled to rescale the heights despite the magic of Ronaldinho and the goals of Pauleta . Five more trophies arrived in the form of three French Cups (including one against Le Classique arch-rivals Marseille in 2006 ), one French League Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup , but
19520-427: The option to buy Danilo Pereira and signing Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan for a reported fee of €60 million. In addition, the club registered the free transfers of Georginio Wijnaldum , Sergio Ramos , and Gianluigi Donnarumma . PSG concluded their transfer window with the signing of one of the greatest players of all time and record Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi , who unexpectedly left Barcelona following
19680-424: The pitch; and wave banners, flags and umbrellas during the whole matches) to encourage their teams and intimidate rivals and referees, seek fights against opposing barras bravas and repel police repression. They wield enormous power and influence over football in their respective states, especially in Argentina, which is home to some of the largest and strongest organised supporter groups worldwide. The exception
19840-501: The players with streamers and trumpets during their Coupe de France match against Rouen in Mantes in January 1973. On 10 November 1973, PSG played their first match at the Parc des Princes versus Ligue 2 promotion rivals Red Star , winning 3–1. Before kickoff, the team warmed up in front of their fans at the Boulogne stand. It was the beginning of a tradition that still stands today. PSG returned to Ligue 1 in 1974, immediately moving into
20000-426: The police, team supporters tend to have a bolder attitude, and are more conspicuous when they travel. They proudly display their scarves and club colours while arriving en masse , which allows the police to keep a close eye on their movements. Although supporters' groups can become violent, the vast majority of matches go ahead with no violent incidents. The main supporter group of the Australia national soccer team
20160-523: The quarterfinals of the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup . On the domestic scene, results were just as satisfying. PSG captured their first podium finish, coming in third place , and repeated the feat in the 1983 Coupe de France Final , this time against Nantes . Recently crowned French champions, the Canaries were headed for the league-cup double, leading at the break after overturning Pascal Zaremba 's early strike. But PSG managed their own comeback in
20320-466: The racists, the club just tacitly accepted that Boulogne was a white-only stand, preferring to move members of ethnic minorities to the Auteuil stand, located opposite to the KoB. Auteuil ultras were racially mixed, largely left-wing , anti-racist and represented Parisian diversity with immigrants or sons of immigrants. In contrast to the English-inspired KoB, the Auteuil stand modelled after
20480-488: The remaining two colours included as well. The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx , also sports PSG's traditional colours. It was unveiled during the 2010 Tournoi de Paris in commemoration of the club's 40th anniversary, and can be seen entertaining kids in the stands of the Parc des Princes or near the pitch with the players during the warm-up. "Allez Paris!," recorded by Belgian actress and singer Annie Cordy in 1971,
20640-427: The rest of their club's supporters) from police repression or attacks by rival groups. Supporters' groups and ultras are renowned for their fanatical vocal support in large groups, defiance of the authorities, and the display of banners at stadiums, which are used to create an atmosphere to intimidate opposing players and supporters, as well as cheering on their own team. Supporters' groups are usually centered around
20800-420: The richest clubs in France. Canal+ wiped out PSG's huge debt and appointed Michel Denisot , journalist on the channel, as club president in place of Francis Borelli. Now enjoying serious investment, the Red and Blues were able to set their sights steadily higher: they had to qualify for European competitions in their first season and become French champions within three years. In consequence, Canal+ increased
20960-473: The season, ahead of the winter transfer deadline it was announced that David Beckham signed a five-month deal with the club. Ibrahimović's 30-goal haul helped the capital side to its first Ligue 1 title in 19 years, and third overall. They also became a regular in the knockout stages of the Champions League, being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on away goals by Barcelona in the quarter-finals after drawing both games. Big money signings continued with
21120-496: The second half as Sušić equalized and then assisted Toko for the winning goal (3–2). The campaign ended on a sad note, though, as Georges Peyroche left the club. Three years later, under the guidance of manager Gérard Houllier , PSG claimed their maiden league crown in 1985–86 . They dominated the championship from start to finish thanks in big part to the likes of Joël Bats , Dominique Bathenay , Luis Fernandez , Dominique Rocheteau and Safet Sušić , all of whom made up
21280-503: The signings of Blaise Matuidi , Salvatore Sirigu , Maxwell , Kevin Gameiro and Javier Pastore . As a result, the Parisians have dominated French football, despite finishing behind Montpellier in 2011–12 , the elusive league crown was finally brought back to Paris in 2012–13 driven by star player Zlatan Ibrahimović , team captain Thiago Silva and manager Carlo Ancelotti . During
21440-501: The sporting infrastructure, from the Division 2 status to the Camp des Loges training center, as well as the manager Pierre Phelipon and most of the players, including Bernard Guignedoux , Michel Prost and Camille Choquier . PSG further strengthened their squad with the signing of Jean Djorkaeff , captain of the French national team . PSG's first official game was a 1–1 league draw away to Poitiers on 23 August 1970. Guignedoux scored
21600-411: The stadium before matches in order to prepare displays. These types of favoured relationships are often criticised as an abuse of power. and for displaying banners and flags, which hinder the view of those sitting behind. During matches of significant importance, many supporters' groups choreograph a large overhead display that is displayed just in the section of the stadium where the group is located or
21760-474: The stadium for each match. The attendance record for a PSG match dates back to March 13, 1983, with 49,575 spectators present in the stands of the Parc des Princes. This match pitted PSG against Belgian side Waterschei for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinals. The final score was a 2–0 victory for the Parisians. During the 1970–71 season, the club played at the Stade Jean-Bouin, concurrently with
21920-472: The stand didn't support the violent actions of Tigris members, which by then had brought them into conflict not only with KoB hooligans but also with big ultra group Boulogne Boys, and even with Auteuil group Karsud, who had close ties with their far-right peers in Boulogne. Since the club directors were scarcely supportive as well, Tigris Mystic decided to self-dissolve in July 2006 after several months of violent incidents. Later, in 2008, several ex-Tigris created
22080-579: The start of the 2000s. The first skirmishes between Auteuil and Boulogne took place right after the banner, but were cut short by a short-lived truce to fight against the new security policy of the club in 2004. Jean-Pierre Larrue, PSG's head of security, was determined to clear the Parc des Princes of hooligans and racists. His idea was to dissolve all the Auteuil and Boulogne groups and recreate two, one unique for each stand, with responsible persons to lead them. Fans menaced mayhem and even sent death threats to PSG president Francis Graille. Larrue eventually lost
22240-505: The summer 2000, PSG spent heavily on new players signing Nicolas Anelka , Peter Luccin and Stéphane Dalmat as part of the "PSG Banlieue" project of its shareholder Canal+, with the goal of winning Ligue 1 and performing a solid UEFA Champions League campaign but it was a failure. In 2003, the club faced a massive financial loss with a deficit of €65 million, leading Canal+ to fire Luis Fernandez as coach and Laurent Perpère as president and replacing them with Vahid Halilhodžić , who became
22400-545: The support of Grinta and Authentiks. Both stands clashed again in February 2010 before a match versus Marseille. After yet another attack from Boulogne hooligans, the aforementioned Auteuil groups led a countercharge which culminated in the lynching of KoB member Yann Lorence. The club immediately reacted by banning all its fans from travelling to away games. In April 2010, the French government dissolved five PSG supporters' groups: Commando Loubard and Milice Paris of Boulogne, Supras Auteuil and Grinta of Auteuil, and Authentiks of
22560-524: The supporter-provided overhead displays, two-poles, banners, etc. are called tifo . Supporters groups tend to be highly vocal at matches, with each group having several football chants . The melodies are mostly taken from popular songs. Unlike hooligan firms , whose main aim is to fight fans of other clubs, the main focus of supporters' groups is to support their own team. Unlike some hooligans, who try to be inconspicuous when they travel in ways such as not wearing team colours in order to avoid detection by
22720-451: The team from Saint-Germain-en-Laye , 15 km west of Paris and founded in 1904, won promotion to Division 2 . However, the three men were stuck with the financial feasibility of the project until they met Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabéu . He told them that starting a crowdfunding campaign was the best solution to establish a new team. 20,000 people backed the project and Paris Saint-Germain were formed on 17 June 1970. Guyot
22880-441: The three colours of the club: the red and blue of Paris , and the white of Saint-Germain-en-Laye . During the 2010–11 season, PSG wore a red shirt during home matches to commemorate their 40th anniversary. The connection between Paris Saint-Germain and the city's fashion houses is a longstanding one. French fashion designer Daniel Hechter became PSG president in 1973 and designed the club's traditional home look that same year:
23040-416: The traditional crest returned in 1995 with "Paris Saint-Germain" above the tower and "1970" below the cradle. This logo went through a slight facelift in 2002, most notably featuring a darker shade of blue. At the request of the club's Qatari owners, the traditional crest underwent a major makeover in 2013. "Paris" is now written in big white bold letters above a large Eiffel Tower , clearly putting forward
23200-444: The tune of " Flower of Scotland ", is another veritable club anthem for PSG supporters. Other notable chants from supporters' groups in the Boulogne and Auteuil stands include "Le Parc est à nous" ( lit. ' The Parc is ours ' ), "Ici, c'est Paris!" ( lit. ' This is Paris! ' ), and "Paris est magique!" ( lit. ' Paris is magical! ' ). Both stands began exchanging these chants during PSG matches in
23360-433: The ultras began to really enjoy supporting the women for three main reasons: their proximity compared to the men, being able to easily approach female players; their appreciation for the fans, always thanking them after every match; and their solidarity with the ultra movement, publicly supporting a return to the Parc des Princes for men's team games in interviews and social media, in contrast to male players whose communication
23520-410: The ultras invade the training ground to show their discontent with the club's results, threatening the players and the staff as well as damaging their cars. With Boulogne Boys gone, the club lost a mediator between Boulogne and Auteuil, as well as a controlling force over Casual Firm, Commando Loubard and Milice Paris hooligans. In December 2009, hostilities reignited in an away match at Bordeaux , when
23680-537: The ultras. 22,689 spectators showed up for PSG's first match of the 2010–11 season, and attendance remained low. By January 2011, PSG allowed supporters' groups in the stands again, as long as they agreed to Charte 12, a list of strict rules and regulations. A few small groups signed it and returned to the stadium, but none of the former Auteuil or Boulogne associations did. PSG also partnered with anti-racism organization SOS Racisme to help run security at matches and keep track of any racist behaviour. In May 2011, ahead of
23840-417: The visiting team complained about the hostile atmosphere produced by the home supporters. The Parisian players were delighted, though. PSG defender Roland Mitoraj told reporters in February 1971 that he had never experienced this kind of support when he played for Saint-Étienne . In May 1971, for the decisive top-of-the-table clash versus Rouen , 5,000 socios travelled to Normandy . The following season,
24000-462: The visiting teams and its supporters. If they prepared tifos from time to time, they preferred to use their money to help a member in trouble with justice. At the beginning of the 1990s, Paris Saint-Germain were enjoying their worst attendance record since returning to Ligue 1 in 1974. The violence and racism in the Kop of Boulogne took the blame for this situation. To give non-violent and non-racist supporters in Boulogne an alternative, as well as boost
24160-533: The wealthiest in the world. PSG currently have the third-highest revenue in the footballing world with annual earnings of €802m according to Deloitte , and are the world's seventh-most valuable football club , worth $ 4.21 billion according to Forbes . In the summer of 1970, an ambitious group of businessmen decided to create a major team in the French capital. Guy Crescent and Pierre-Étienne Guyot chose to merge their virtual side, Paris FC , created in 1969, with Stade Saint-Germain of Henri Patrelle after
24320-446: Was also a big landmark for Auteuil. Auteuil grew in the shadow of the Kop of Boulogne. Both stands competed for visual and vocal dominance, but Auteuil never questioned the authority of Boulogne. As a result, these two fan scenes, with their radically different racial composition and political views, coexisted in relative peace during the 1990s and early 2000s. They even began exchanging chants and mottos such as "Ici, c'est Paris!" ("This
24480-493: Was an indoor football tournament founded by PSG in 1984 and held annually until 1991 at the AccorHotels Arena in the 12th arrondissement of Paris . Played indoors on a synthetic field and featuring seven-a-side teams, the competition featured hosts PSG and five more clubs. The Parisians lifted the trophy on two occasions, more than any other club. Since its inception, Paris Saint-Germain have played in five main stadiums:
24640-499: Was certainly offensive, but it was recently elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy 's presence in the stands that sealed the fate of the ultra group. He had promised back in 2006 that, if he won the elections, he would rid PSG of racists and hooligans. The French government dissolved them in April 2008; it was the end of one of the most legendary supporters' group in France. This 2007–08 season, in which PSG barely escaped relegation, also saw
24800-599: Was during 1997 Kolkata Derby in the Federation Cup Semi-final , where a recorded crowd of 131,781 turned up for the match while the official capacity of the stadium was 120,000. Fans of the clubs formed in the early 2010's also created ultras fan group, like Manjappada , which supports Kerala Blasters FC , West Block Blues, which supports Bengaluru FC and some more. Bangladeshi Active Supporters' group Bangladeshi Football Ultras Bashundhara Kings Ultras In South America, barras bravas are
24960-405: Was elected the club's first president a few days later. For the first time in French football history, the fans had financially contributed in the making of a club. The merger was made official following the creation of the club's association on 12 August 1970. PSG retains this day as their foundation date. Paris FC contributed with the financial backing, while Stade Saint-Germain provided
25120-399: Was made in quick succession. A busy pre-season followed with signings of Nuno Mendes, Vitinha , Hugo Ekitike and Nordi Mukiele . Eleven players were put on the transfer list as Galtier looked to reduce the squad size. After a single season, Galtier was replaced with Luis Enrique as head coach before the 2023–24 season Since their foundation, Paris Saint-Germain have represented both
25280-554: Was more controlled by the club. Paris Saint-Germain F.C. Paris Saint-Germain Football Club ( French pronunciation: [paʁi sɛ̃ ʒɛʁmɛ̃] ), commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain or simply PSG , is a professional football club based in Paris , France. They compete in Ligue 1 , the top division of French football . As France's most successful club , they have won 50 official honours, including twelve league titles and one major European trophy. Their home ground
25440-462: Was the club's first official anthem. A PSG fan from the start, she was part of an association of hundreds of celebrities who contributed to the foundation of the club in 1970. The club's second anthem, "Allez Paris-Saint-Germain!" by Les Parisiens, was recorded in 1977, replacing Cordy's version. The brainchild of historical PSG leader and music producer Charles Talar, he produced and released it under his homonym record label. The song's chorus became
25600-419: Was welcoming the players' entrance to the pitch with tifo choreography, which included flares, flags, banners and chants. Despite being Boulogne's most high-profile group, its style didn't fit the image of the stand, being more eye-catching and less confrontational. Nonetheless, Boys was the stand's biggest animators. They were also a controlling force and a mediator in the stand, and had an unpolitical stance in
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