Bayern Munich released a statement on its website due to French police restrictions being placed on traveling Bayern Munich fans for the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain:
This Monday afternoon,
the Paris Police Prefecture issued a general order at short notice to regulate the arrival of fans and set up a police control zone for the Champions League match between FC Bayern and Paris St. Germain at the Parc des Princes stadium. After FC Bayern was only informed of this surprising measure today, the club immediately lodged a protest at today’s UEFA meeting and will take further legal action. Paris St. Germain supports FC Bayern in this matter.
The general ruling affects all fan coaches and stipulates that they must gather at a toll booth outside the city before the match. It also stipulates, among other things, that all other Bayern fans must travel to the stadium exclusively by public transport. After the match, everyone must return to their original means of transport. The coaches will then be escorted out of the city by the police.
For FC Bayern, the short notice of the decree is unacceptable, as all the relevant information has been available for weeks, as is the case with all matches involving the German record champions. Furthermore, there has been no change in the risk situation with regard to FC Bayern fans since the last meeting in Paris in 2023. Due to the official regulations it is expected that the fan coaches will only be able to leave Paris in the early hours of the morning (from around 05:00 CET) to make their way home.
Bayern also issues another statement as well earlier today as well:
The Paris police prefecture issued a last-minute order the day before Bayern Munich’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes stadium. All 15 fan buses carrying the record champions had to assemble at a tollbooth outside Paris on the A4 motorway and were only permitted to depart for the stadium at 5 p.m. under police escort. Even buses that had already arrived in Paris were forced to leave and proceed to the tollbooth. The facilities there are woefully inadequate, consisting of only one toilet and offering neither food nor drinks. Furthermore, the treatment of the fans falls far short of any acceptable standards.
Jan-Christian Deesen , CEO of FC Bayern: “This action is unprecedented. We secured a court hearing overnight for this afternoon in Paris, where our representatives challenged this ruling. After the hearing, we were informed that the written judgment would be issued within a few hours. Since this will likely be too late to change anything about this outrageous procedure, it is yet another slap in the face to our fans.”
Because the late arrival time will shift the bus drivers’ driving hours, departure will not be possible until six to seven hours after the match. This regulation forces fans to remain in the parking lot in front of the stadium until departure. In addition to these unacceptable conditions, many fans will be unable to reach their workplaces the following day.
Paris St. Germain and UEFA support FC Bayern in this matter; FC Bayern will not let this matter rest.
Well, here we are.
The marquee match-up of this Champions League matchday is Bayern Munich’s visit to Pari Saint-Germain (sorry Liverpool and Real Madrid, this is the best game on the docket). Two of Europe’s most powerful squads will square off in what should be a true battle.
Talent will be featured at all positions and intensity will be off the charts, so let’s get down to brass tacks and discuss it! This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show:
- What to watch for with Paris Saint-Germain.
- A look at Bayern Munich’s injury situation.
- A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI.
- A prediction on the match.
