It’s a decision and a press release that changed the plans of a lot of Parisian supporters. On December 15, the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) announced its decision to “boycott the Champions Trophy”, which will nevertheless be played on January 3 at the Parc des Princes. A rare decision, especially since the different groups that make up the collective will also be deprived of a stand for the first two home matches of the year.
The decision was announced by the CUP ten days after the opening of the ticket office in priority to Parc des Princes subscribers. If the match was not included in the subscription, they were, as with travel, entitled to a head start on purchasing tickets. “When the tickets went on sale, we had zero information about a boycott of the CUP office so we all took our seats,” says Guy, a member of the CUP. I really liked the idea of this champions trophy in France, the boxing day atmosphere… And then we got the information, so we immediately sold our places. »
28 euros for the cheapest place
Guy is one of the many subscribers who just “followed the office” of the CUP on this issue. The reasons given by him to justify the boycott are multiple, but one stands out: the “tariffs imposed by the LFP”, “unacceptable” and which “go against the defense of our values and popular football “. The sesames were put on sale at the price of 25 euros excluding fees, 28 when validating the basket. “For the record, visitor tickets cost 18.50 euros for the LDC match in Dortmund,” wrote the CUP.
“I quite agree with everything that was said in the press release, overall,” continues Guy. The example taken from the trip to Dortmund is very good. In Ligue 1, there is a fixed price of 10 euros per trip to the park. There, knowing you’re in your stadium, the cheapest place at 30 balls I find it crazy. I know I can afford it, that’s not the problem, but beyond the principle of paying in addition to your subscription, it’s a bit expensive for a PSG-TFC in the Champions Trophy. Sell tickets for 10 euros, make it a popular party! »
Four days after the CUP, the Tolosa Indians, the main ultra group at the Toulouse Stadium, also announced their boycott. There will therefore be, for the first Champions Trophy in France in front of the French public (the one in 2020, in Lens, was played behind closed doors), no ultra to liven up the stands. In addition to the price of tickets, another grievance was put forward by the ultra violets: “How is it possible to claim to respect sporting fairness by choosing the PSG stadium to host the meeting and this with knowledge of the two teams having to meet? compete for the trophy? »
Less than 15% of places for the TFC?
“How many places in the corner Brice? », an account “The TFC only had tickets for La Tribune Boulogne on its ticket office,” explains the person behind the account. I calculated the number of places this represents and the result is 6508 places. Concerning the general public sale, supporters had to go through the PSG ticket office to hope to get a place. It seems illogical as a purchasing process: either the LFP sets up a site for the general public, or the two clubs can offer seats outside the corner for neutral supporters.
#TFC : 6508 ???? open to subscribers and buyers of previous seasons in a specific area (Tribune Boulogne).#PSG : 41418 ???? open to subscribers + GENERAL PUBLIC throughout the stadium.
TFC: 13.6% of the Park
PSG : 86,4 %We are on neutral ground ???? #TDC2023 pic.twitter.com/hX9BFQ2ML2
— How many places in the corner Brice? (@combiendeplaces) December 29, 2023
Especially since the boycott announced by the Indians has, it seems, been a major blow to the Toulouse numbers hoped for for D-Day. “The boycott of the Indians, in my opinion, had an impact on the presence of TFC supporters,” continues the Toulouse supporter. The group is the driving force among more than 3000 members, I think that 1500-2000 would have gone there if the group had said: let’s go.
“We wanted a neutral stadium, a draw, a neutral protocol and above all the same number of supporters,” explained the president of Tef, Damien Comolli, at a press conference on December 21. And neutral ticketing. We didn’t want Toulouse supporters in the visitor park. » Contacted, the club did not wish to make further comments. In the end, there is every reason to believe that the overwhelming majority of the Parc des Princes are rooting for PSG. In an atmosphere that could be very studious.
