PSG Enrique
(Credit: Imago and TNT Sports)
Keith Hackett
Mon 2 June 2025 16:54, UK
Keith Hackett has revealed whether Premier League clubs could play behind closed doors if they face PSG early on in next season’s Champions League.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the French champions are unlikely to be punished after the fans invaded the pitch after the Champions League final.
A remarkable performance on Saturday (31 May) saw PSG demolish Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
That also ensured that Luis Enrique‘s side had completed the treble after also winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, sparking wild celebrations in the process.
PSG fans invade pitch after Champions League success
At the end of the game, as the squad celebrated on the pitch with the trophy, a number of the French champions’ supporters made their way onto the pitch from behind one of the goals.
Police and stewards were able to prevent them from getting further than the penalty area, but the players were removed from the pitch regardless.
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Due to this being a final, it was played at a neutral venue, the Allianz Arena in Munich, where Chelsea previously won the Champions League for the first time in 2012.
Those fans who had got on to the field were then funnelled out of the stadium, before the players were allowed to return to continue their celebrations.
That has led to some suggestions that UEFA, who are known to take crowd trouble seriously, could punish PSG from the start of next season.
If that was the case, it could impact Premier League clubs if they were to draw the title holders in the early stages of the competition with regards to restricted attendances or even behind-closed-doors games.
After Tottenham beat Man United 1-0 in the Europa League final, they have automatically qualified for the Champions League next season.
The top five in the Premier League – Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle – have also qualified for Europe’s top competition.
Hackett though, does not believe they need to worry about playing in altered circumstances if they draw PSG early in the competition, even after what happened in the final.
Premier League table top six
(Credit: Imago)
Premier League fan concerns eased
After being asked by Football Insider if PSG could be punished by UEFA for those pitch invasions after the Champions League final, Hackett said: “Obviously UEFA will review that situation. Obviously over here in England it’s a criminal offence if you go on the field of play as a supporter.
“We know at the end of the season, that seems to be liberally ignored, and I think with this scenario, of a final, UEFA might just take a liberal view on that and not issue the sort of punishments.
“Because it’s in a neutral stadium, it is the responsibilty of UEFA, not the clubs, so in this situation, do they fine themselves for not ensuring the security is strong enough?!
“So for me I think UEFA will look at their own procedures to make certain in future cup competitions they don’t have this problem.
“But identifying fans, somebody could say ‘I’m an Inter Milan fan and somebody gave me a scarf!’. There are all sort of scenarios there.
“But in a final, the organisation of the stadium, ticked supply etc., everything, is dealt with by UEFA and UEFA staff. They literally loan the stadium and then take on the responsibility of everything inside it.”
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