UEFA shuts part of PSG's stadium over abuse of disabled Chelsea fans

Paris Saint-German (PSG) has been ordered to close part of their stadium as punishment for their supporters’ abuse of disabled Chelsea fans during their Champions League quarter-final match in April this year.

During the April 2 first-leg quarter-final, which PSG won 3-1, PSG home supporters abused, spat on and pelted a group of disabled Chelsea fans who sat among them due to a lack of facilities in the visitors’ stands.

 “It seemed like I was sitting in hell and it was something that I had no control over,” Chelsea supporter Lisa Hayden, a wheelchair user, recently told the BBC.
“I felt no-one had our backs: there were 10 of us and thousands of them and I didn’t think we were going to get out of there,” she added.

UEFA, which gave the punishment today, disclosed that it had ordered a one-match closure of sectors 104 and 105 of the Parc des Princes, PSG’s home stadium. The sanction applies to the next European club competition match in which PSG play as hosts.

“The sanction has been imposed for the discriminatory conduct of some Paris Saint-Germain supporters towards disabled fans of Chelsea,” UEFA said.

Disabled fans’ rights campaigners have since hailed the UEFA’s decision.

In a statement sent to AFP, Joyce Cook, Head of the Centre for Access to Football in Europe said: “We welcome the determined decision taken by UEFA which sends a clear message to all clubs that abuse of disabled fans will not be tolerated”.