Paris Saint-Germain has signed a new global partnership deal with American soft drinks company Coca-Cola until 2029, triggering severe backlash from supporters online.
The French football club announced the agreement on Wednesday, August 26, renewing a commercial relationship that originally dates back more than 20 years.
Paris Saint-Germain said the deal would deliver unique experiences for supporters alongside special events focused on football, music and culture.
Supporters quickly condemned the announcement across social media platforms, with many describing the partnership as deeply shocking in the context of the war in Gaza.
Boycott calls and Israeli settlements
Opponents pointed to boycott initiatives directed at Coca-Cola over its business operations in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory. The Palestinian BDS movement has supported the #BoycottCoke campaign since November 2024, focusing on the Central Bottling Company, which acts as the brand's exclusive franchisee in Israel and operates in the settlement of Atarot in occupied Palestinian territory.
One fan said that celebrating a partnership with Coca-Cola during the war in Gaza was deeply shocking because of those commercial links. Another supporter expressed frustration with the club's commercial choices, stating that existing partnerships like Visit Rwanda were already unacceptable and complaining that the club only had sickening sponsors.
Other criticism focused on the product itself, with one supporter remarking that Coca-Cola was bad for health. Some supporters reacted with humor, with one stating that the only Cola they wanted at the club was French winger Bradley Barcola.
Ultra groups and Palestinian support
The strong reaction from fans follows a long history of political expression among Paris Saint-Germain supporter groups, notably the Collectif Ultra Paris. The ultra group has publicly displayed support for Palestine for several years, predating the events of October 7, 2023.
During a UEFA Champions League match against Spanish club Atletico Madrid on November 6, 2024, supporters deployed a giant banner in the Auteuil stand at the Parc des Princes stadium. The display called for freedom for Palestine and Lebanon, carrying a legend that advocated war on the pitch but peace in the world.
Club profile and commercial ties
Paris Saint-Germain is a major professional football team based in Paris that competes in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Parc des Princes, where organized fan groups in the Auteuil stand frequently present banner displays during domestic and European matches.
Atlanta-based Coca-Cola is one of the largest multinational beverage corporations in the world. Paris Saint-Germain has previously faced scrutiny from supporter groups over several of its corporate sponsorships, including its deal with Visit Rwanda.
