The affair caused a stir in France and profoundly shook the world of international football. Just after Paris Saint-Germain had secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Inter Miami in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup, a media bombshell broke: FIFA was reportedly reviewing the match result, citing a possible violation related to the number of players listed on PSG’s team sheet.
This information, relayed by several international media outlets and confirmed by sources within FIFA, immediately sparked a wave of anger among Parisian fans and observers of French football. Many saw it as an unjustified attempt to undermine a resounding victory on the pitch against a team led by former PSG legend Lionel Messi.
FIFA’s reason for the decision is that the tournament’s authorized quota of registered players was exceeded , an administrative error that could, in theory, lead to the match result being annulled . A decision of this magnitude would be unprecedented in the modern history of club football, and would have far-reaching consequences, both sporting and political.
Faced with the scale of the scandal and growing anger, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi spoke out publicly this morning. In a firm but measured statement, he denounced “shameful media manipulation” and affirmed that all player registrations had been validated by the competent authorities before the start of the tournament . He also added: “We have nothing to hide. All our documents are compliant and available for inspection. If the truth must be revealed, then let it be revealed in its entirety.”
Support for PSG immediately poured into social media, where the hashtags #JusticePourPSG and #NonÀLAnnulation quickly went viral. Iconic figures in French football, such as Didier Deschamps and Zinédine Zidane, expressed their incomprehension and called on FIFA to “respect sporting integrity.”
Meanwhile, FIFA has yet to make a final decision. A FIFA spokesperson simply stated that “administrative checks are underway” and that no action will be taken until the investigation is fully concluded .
While awaiting this verdict, PSG remains focused on its preparation for the quarter-finals. But the shadow of this controversy now hangs over the competition, and especially over the credibility of FIFA’s decisions. In any case, Al-Khelaïfi’s intervention seems to have changed the situation , placing transparency and administrative rigor at the center of the debate.
