ISTANBUL

France demanded an explanation Thursday from Paris Saint-Germain for the "unacceptable" pro-Palestine banners that were displayed by fans during a match.

"I ask PSG to explain itself and the clubs to ensure that politics does not come to damage sport, which must always remain a source of unity," Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X. "This banner had no place in this stadium, and such messages are also prohibited by the regulations of the League and UEFA.”

Retailleau said if similar incidents were to again occur, the government would have to consider forbidding banners for clubs that do not enforce the rules.

Paris Saint-Germain fans displayed banners in solidarity with Palestine at a UEFA Champions League match Wednesday against Atletico Madrid.

Fans raised a huge banner that read: "Free Palestine" in English, and a smaller one that said, "Battle on the field but peace in the world" in French before kick-off at the Parc des Princes stadium.

The larger banner featured images of Jerusalem's iconic Dome of the Rock Mosque and the Palestinian and Lebanese flags.

Atletico Madrid upset PSG 2-1 at the Parc des Princes. Warren Zaire-Emery scored the opener for PSG, but Nahuel Molina and Angel Correa produced unanswered goals for Atletico.

Israel has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023. The onslaught has killed nearly 43,500 victims and rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.