The situation between the City of Paris and PSG, which was already electric, passed a new milestone this Tuesday. Suspected indirectly of racism by Nasser al-Khelaïfi, the elected David Belliard wanted to defend himself in the columns of Le Parisien.
“Calling me a racist amounts to slander, and is not up to the high stakes this important debate”, responded the deputy mayor of Paris. A few hours earlier, the president of the capital’s club had not been tender with the politician from the ecologist party (EELV).
A conflictual situation for months
While Paris Saint-Germain has been trying to acquire the Parc des Princes for months, the City of Paris still does not know on which foot to dance and discussions between the two parties have broken down. Anne Hidalgo is firmly opposed to this purchase and proposes, among other things, that the capital’s club remain a tenant for a very long period.
The two camps seemed to be on the verge of coming closer last week after PSG abandoned the idea of moving to the Stade de France. Two options then lay before the Qatari leaders: either build a brand new stadium, or reach an agreement with the City of Paris to buy Parc des Princes.
Satisfied by the news, the first deputy to the mayor,Emmanuel Grégoire, had expressed himself to Le Parisien by indicating that “the 2027-2028 season in the new Parc des Princes, (is) a scenario within reach.” Except, that everything has once again shifted when David Belliard gave an interview to Sud Radio.
“I will oppose the sale of this Parisian heritage to private interests”
“We do not want the sale of the Parc des Princes to Qatar, or in any case the sale of Parc des Princes […] As a Parisian elected official, I will oppose any sale of the Park, whether to Qatar or to other private interests,” said the ecologist elected.
This statement did not fall on deaf ears as Nasser Al-Khelaïfi quickly responded in Le Parisien: “Some say we resume discussions, others say we do not sell to Qatar. Is it because we are Arab, I do not know? Is it legal to say that? I do not know, I do not think so. ”
Marked by these accusations, Belliard defended himself in the same media. For him, he believes to have “explicitly indicated” that he was “opposed to the sale of the Parc to the Qataris, current tenants through PSG, as well as to any other private interest.”
The former adviser to the metropolis of the Greater Paris then added: “I will oppose the sale of this Parisian heritage to private interests, regardless of their nationality. I believe it must remain a common good and therefore a municipal good.”
Media war that doesn’t seem close to stopping
The war of words through media doesn’t seem close to stopping. For his part, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi repeats: “A great club must own its stadium. It is urgent to make a decision.” Could this perhaps pave the way for a departure if the City of Paris does not sell its stadium?
