- PSG president paid tribute ahead of Hillsborough tragedy anniversary
- Sent message to Hugo Ekitike
- Delighted with PSG’s win in UCL quarterfinals
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi paid tribute to the 97 Liverpool fans who passed away in the Hillsborough tragedy and sent a classy message to Hugo Ekitike after the win over Liverpool.
On this day, 37 years ago, 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives while watching the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest. PSG paid their tribute on Monday after arriving in England ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals second leg, with the players and staff laying a wreath of remembrance outside Anfield.
After the match, the Ligue 1 side’s president also sent a classy message during an interview with CSB Sports. Al-Khelaifi said that talking about the tragedy was more important than the game, later adding a message to Hugo Ekitike, who has suffered a suspected Achilles injury.
“But before we talk about the match, I wanna say, we’re really thinking about the 97 people who lost their lives for football, and that’s something much bigger than any football, any sport. So our thoughts are with them and their family. Of course, also thinking of our ex-player [Hugo] Ekitike. I hope it’s not too bad, his injury.
Al-Khelaifi went on to talk about the match, saying that he was proud of the PSG players after they beat the Reds 2-0 home and away in the tie. He wants them to keep their feet on the ground and remain focused on the semifinal. He said:
“We are here. Of course, I’m very proud, very happy, you know, about the result and the qualification for the second terms in the ruin the semi-final and you know, to come here and field all respect for the amazing fans here, you know, to beat them, here to zero again, that’s amazing achievement, but we need to be humble. We need to be down there, thinking about the next step. Next match. You know, we shouldn’t go over the moon also, but we we’re very, very happy.”
Ousmane Dembele scored twice in the second half yesterday at Anfield, leading to a 4-0 aggregate win for the French side over Liverpool.
Liverpool pay tributes on Hillsborough tragedy anniversary
Liverpool paid tribute to the 97 fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragedy today, with the head coaches and captains of all sides at the club visiting the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield. They laid wreaths along with Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, and Natasha Dowie, while club CEO Billy Hogan also joined them.
The club also announced that 97 balloons were released from the center circle at Anfield as a tribute to the fans. The men’s team also paid respects at the AXA Training Centre, while the museum and stadium tours were paused from the afternoon.
As Paris Saint-Germain prepares for the Champions League semifinals, the club’s gesture at Anfield serves as a powerful reminder of the values that transcend the sport.
By honouring the 97 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy and offering support to former player Hugo Ekitike, Al-Khelaifi and his squad demonstrated that while victories on the pitch are historic, respect and human connection remain the ultimate priority.
For Liverpool, the day remains a solemn period of reflection, supported by a global football community that stands united in remembrance.
