Arsenal Condemns Racist Abuse Towards PSG Players Following Champions League Clash

Arsenal Football Club has issued a forceful condemnation after a group of individuals were caught on camera allegedly making racist gestures toward Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.

The incident occurred shortly after PSG secured a 1-0 win in the first leg of their semi-final tie, with video footage—first obtained by French outlet RMC Sport—showing five men behind a barrier near the stadium’s car park making monkey gestures and noises as members of the PSG delegation, including Black players and staff, walked past.

RMC Sport reports that the PSG team began filming the men after repeated abuse, which included chest-thumping and mimicking primate-like behavior. The offensive gestures were reportedly directed exclusively at Black individuals.

In response, Arsenal released a statement condemning the behavior “in the strongest possible terms” and confirmed they are cooperating with authorities to identify the perpetrators. “We strongly condemn all forms of racism and discrimination. We are working to identify the individuals in the video and will take the strongest possible action,” a club spokesperson said.

The Premier League also responded, echoing Arsenal’s stance and reaffirming its zero-tolerance approach to racism.

UEFA is reviewing the incident and may take disciplinary action. A similar situation occurred last season when Barcelona were fined €25,000 after fans made Nazi salutes and racist chants toward PSG supporters.

This is not the first time Arsenal has dealt with racist behavior from a small subset of fans. The club banned 24 supporters last season for discriminatory conduct. Managing director Richard Garlick previously affirmed Arsenal’s commitment to inclusivity: “Abuse and discrimination will not be tolerated... We aim to create an environment where everyone feels welcome.”

The outcome of UEFA’s investigation and potential sanctions against the club are expected in the coming weeks.

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