- Bayern Munich defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0, with Kim Min-jae scoring the only goal in the first half.
- PSG suffered a significant blow with Ousmane Dembele’s red card, leaving them in danger of elimination from the Champions League.
- Bayern fans protested against PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, displaying banners critical of his influence in European football.
- Al-Khelaifi’s role as a key figure in PSG, the European Club Association, and Qatari sports investments has made him unpopular among Bayern supporters.
- The protests follow Bayern’s recent decision not to renew their sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways, influenced by fan opposition to Qatari involvement in football.
Bayern Munich earned a crucial 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night, keeping their hopes of topping the group alive. The decisive moment came in the 38th minute, as South Korean defender Kim Min-jae rose to meet a cross and powered a header past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. This goal proved to be the match-winner, giving Bayern their third win in five Champions League outings this season.
The defeat leaves PSG in a precarious position, still outside the qualifying spots for the knockout round, and now facing a real risk of early elimination. Their struggles were compounded by a 2nd half red card for winger Ousmane Dembele, who was sent off for a foul that left PSG playing with just 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite a few late attempts, PSG were unable to break down Bayern’s defense, and the match ended with a clean sheet for the Bavarians.
Off the field, Bayern fans took the opportunity to protest against PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has become a controversial figure in European football. The protests were held during the match at the Allianz Arena, where fans displayed a series of banners criticizing Al-Khelaifi’s influence on the sport. One banner featured a line drawn over his face, while others accused him of being “plutocratic” and questioned his vast power, holding several key roles in both football and media, including as the chairman of the European Club Association, head of Qatar Sports Investments, and owner of the BeIN Media Group.
Al-Khelaifi’s influence has long been a point of contention among Bayern Munich supporters, who have been vocal in their opposition to the Qatari businessman’s control over European football. This animosity stems from a broader criticism of Qatar’s involvement in football, particularly after the country hosted the 2022 World Cup amid widespread human rights concerns. Bayern fans have also been critical of their own club’s ties to Qatar, leading to the eventual decision not to renew their lucrative sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways last year.
The protests against Al-Khelaifi are just the latest in a series of actions taken by Bayern’s fanbase to distance the club from Qatari interests. These efforts have been successful in pushing back against Qatar’s involvement, with reports suggesting that the Qatari leadership, including Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, became displeased with the sustained protests. The termination of Bayern’s sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways last year was seen as a victory for the fans and an indication of the growing influence of supporter activism in shaping the direction of major European clubs.
As for the match itself, Bayern’s performance was solid but lacked the clinical finish that might have put PSG away earlier. Still, the victory was crucial for manager Thomas Tuchel, who has faced a period of inconsistency with his team. With PSG now in danger of missing out on the knockout stages, this loss was a bitter blow to their ambitions in Europe, and the pressure will continue to mount on their star-studded squad to find form in the coming weeks.
