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Women's Football PSG back ‘ultras’ accused of carrying weapons and damaging Chelsea's Kingsmeadow stadium

Paris St Germain have denied accusations that their fans caused any trouble before, during or after Thursday night’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League.

The French club expressed their “full support” in a statement yesterday morning, hours after weapons, fireworks and drugs were found on board a supporters’ coach.

A coach carrying about 50 PSG fans were turned away from the Kingsmeadow ground prior to kick-off after Metropolitan Police said “knives and knuckledusters” were recovered while one man was arrested for possession of class A drugs.

It is alleged that the group of PSG “ultras” who travelled to the game had been banned from attending the club’s men’s and youth-team games but were allowed to attend women’s games.

There were also reports that fans vandalised parts of the stadium on Thursday morning and later caused trouble at Waterloo and Wimbledon stadium.

Despite all the negative reports about their fans, PSG slammed the police and Chelsea for the way the situation was handled, claiming the damage was already done prior to the arrival of PSG fans.

“We repeat that the local authorities have not provided any evidence of wrongdoing, at least no fact available justifies such a ban to attend the match,” the PSG club statement read.

“All of our supporters have been searched, and if any of these searches or facts had been under criminal law, we can imagine that the concerned supporter(s) would not have been able to leave British territory without being disturbed.

“Surprisingly, we note that Chelsea, on the morning of the match, did not want the presence of our supporters, arguing of alleged damage to the stadium which is, according to local testimonies, prior to the arrival of our fans in London.

“We express our fullest support to fans of Paris St Germain who, in the middle of the week, had arranged their schedule to come to support our women’s team and we count on their fervour during the return match next Wednesday in Paris.”

PSG fan Sofiane Mihoub, who has lived in London for more than 15 years, attended Thursday’s match and stressed the away supporters in the ground “were very peaceful.”

He said: “To me they only have 12 stewards [at Kingsmeadow] and they were not ready to receive that many people and so they find any excuse to not let them in.

“When we left the ground everything was fine. We all [Chelsea and PSG fans] left at the same time, there were no incidents whatsoever.

“It’s more hype than anything else with the news spreading that things were found on the bus and making it bigger than what it is. They make a snowball out of it.”

There were reports that PSG fans chanted “you’re fucking shit” to a group of kids chanting: “Super Fran Kirby.”

Following Thursday’s match, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes hoped the incident will not discourage the club’s supporters from travelling to France.

Chelsea are understood to be looking to issue travel advice to Blues supporters ahead of the second leg, which will take place at Stade Jean-Bouin on March 27, to make sure their fans’ experience in Paris is the safest it can be.

“I don’t think we should discourage anyone from going,” Hayes said. “But at the same time we have got remember that the women’s game is progressing and the fans are following. With that comes the same level of scrutiny. But they have to behave, whether that’s our fans or theirs.

“The police took care of what they had to and I expect that the organisation and preparation for that will make sure that our fans are safe. I don't think we should discourage anyone from going.”

A club spokesman confirmed: “We keep security matters under continual review.”

Uefa has been contacted for comment but had not replied at the time of writing.

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