In a statement released on Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Collectif Ultras Paris publicly took a stand ahead of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille. The Parisian supporters denounced the repeated travel bans and called for a genuine dialogue with the authorities, without ignoring the serious incidents of the past.
As the February 8th match approaches, we, Paris Saint-Germain supporters and members of the Collectif Ultras Paris, solemnly call upon the (in)competent authorities to authorize the return of Marseille supporters to the Parc des Princes.
“We defend the principle of the freedom to support one’s club wherever it plays. The Classiques must once again become true clashes, played in an organized and structured environment, with dialogue and the participation of supporters from both sides.
It is still possible to demonstrate that in France, there is a culture of organization, anticipation, and dialogue, rather than a systematic policy of bans.”
The message from the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) is not one of denial or provocation, but rather a deliberate effort to change a system that has become rigid. The CUP points out that some bans stemmed from serious incidents, which no one is trying to downplay. French football still bears the scars of these excesses, and the need to guarantee security remains undeniable. But the question today is one of proportion and duration: can we forever govern the present with the fears of the past?
By calling for a structured approach to away travel, the Parisian ultras are advocating for a logic of shared responsibility rather than a policy of systematic closures. Elsewhere in Europe, consultation between clubs, supporters, and authorities allows for anticipating risks instead of circumventing them through bans.
À force de priver les supporters de déplacement, le football français prend le risque de banaliser ses grands rendez-vous et d’affaiblir l’atmosphère de ses stades. Le CUP ne réclame ni passe-droit ni impunité, mais une évolution pragmatique. Un appel au dialogue qui, sans effacer l’histoire, invite à regarder l’avenir autrement.
