page_title: Paris Saint-Germain F.C. supporters
section_title: Celtic and Liverpool
hierarchical_section_title: Paris Saint-Germain F.C. supporters / Friendships with other fans / Celtic and Liverpool
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: cliché perso pris au cours du match de football Liverpool-PSG en demi-finale retour de la Coupe d'Europe des vainqueurs de coupes 1997. Liverpool-PSG, CWC 1997 semi-final. English: personal snapshot made during the Liverpool-PSG football game in the semi-final of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1997. Liverpool-PSG, CWC semi-final in 1997.
context_page_description: Paris Saint-Germain Football Club is the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported teams in the world. Famous PSG fans include former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and retired NBA player Tony Parker.
  Lacking a big passionate fanbase, the club began offering cheaper season tickets to young supporters in 1976. These fans were placed in the Kop K, located in the K section of the Paris stand at Parc des Princes. Following an increase in ticket prices, Kop K supporters moved to the Boulogne stand in 1978, and the Kop of Boulogne was born. There, the club's first Italian-style ultra group, Boulogne Boys, was founded in 1985. Other KoB groups, however, took British hooligans as dubious role models and violence rapidly escalated. PSG supporters' groups have been linked to football hooliganism ever since.
  PSG owners Canal+ responded in 1991 by encouraging and financing non-violent fans of the KoB stand to take place in the Auteuil stand at the other end of Parc des Princes. The Virage Auteuil was born, alongside Supras Auteuil, its most notorious ultras. At first the measure worked but, slowly, a violent rivalry arose between the two stands.
context_section_description: Though rarely on the same page, Auteuil and Boulogne respected Celtic and Liverpool fans since they are two of the greatest referents within the supporter movement. Celtic's visual approach was an inspiration for Auteuil and ultra groups in general, while Boulogne's history was strongly linked with Liverpool. Back in 1978, PSG supporters created the Kop of Boulogne stand in tribute to the famous Spion Kop stand in Anfield that groups Liverpool ultras. Moreover, Celtic and Liverpool fanbases also share many traits, most notably the anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone." Therefore, these were the only two exceptions in which both Auteuil and Boulogne agreed to fraternize with the same rival supporters.
  When PSG defeated Celtic at Parc des Princes for the second round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in October 1995, the Scottish supporters applauded Auteuil at the end of the match to which the PSG ultras responded by chanting "Celtic! Celtic! Celtic!" during several minutes. In September 2017, the two teams met again in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League group stages. After the final whistle at Celtic Park, PSG fans chanted "Celtic! Celtic! Celtic!", while the Scots congratulated them for the win. The return leg in Paris was no different. First, both fanbases played a match under the Eiffel Tower and then PSG supporters unfurled a giant banner at Parc des Princes with the message "You’ll Never Walk Alone."
  When Liverpool played Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semifinals at Parc des Princes in April 1997, Auteuil presented a banner that read "Welcome to the Legendary Fans" and Liverpool's hymn "You'll Never Walk Alone" was respected by both stands when their English counterparts sang it during the game. PSG and Liverpool faced each other again in the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League group stages in September 2018. Known for its intimidating atmosphere and noisy supporters, Anfield welcomed 2,500 Parisian ultras from the CUP who were able to make themselves heard and sometimes even more than the 50,000 supporters of the Reds. After the end of the game, the Liverpool faithful greeted their counterparts with a warm applause.
caption: PSG supporters in Anfield in 1997.
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