The Turkish giants could face a punishment or stadium restrictions for violating a UEFA rule.
Galatasaray could face UEFA sanctions after their fans displayed two pro-Palestine banners during their match against Liverpool.
Several of Europe’s greatest clubs are in play on Tuesday night as the second round of 2025/26 Champions League group stage matches begin.
Following Real Madrid’s overwhelming 5-0 away win over Kazakh side FC Kairat, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich all began their second matches of the competition.
Following a stunning late win against Atletico Madrid in the first round, Arne Slot’s team will face Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray in a tough road journey to Istanbul’s Rams Park.
Although Galatasaray will be pleased to have taken an early lead in the match, they may face a UEFA sanction for banners held up by fans immediately after kickoff.
In the first half, Galatasaray fans sitting behind their goal unfurled numerous large banners with unambiguous messages in favour of Palestine in the midst of the ongoing Gaza conflict.
One sign said ‘Humanity Lost Conscience in Gaza’, another read ‘#LetGazaBabiesLive’, one read ‘Palestinian Genocide’, and another simply said ‘Free Palestine’.
According to Article 16(2)(e) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, clubs are held accountable if their supporters use “words, objects, or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly provocative messages of a political, ideological, religious, or offensive nature.”
This prohibition applies to banners, flags, chants, and other displays, and UEFA may punish the Turkish team with penalties, partial stadium closures, or even full stadium bans.
In 2023, UEFA fined Scottish club Celtic €17,500 (£15,276) after its fans displayed Palestinian flags during a Champions League encounter.
Last year, however, the European regulatory body chose not to sanction Paris Saint-Germain after fans unveiled a 50×20-metre ‘Free Palestine’ tifo before the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid at the Parc des Princes in November.
The gesture came only eight days before the French national team faced Israel in a Nations League match in Paris.
“There will… be no disciplinary case because the banner that was unfurled cannot in this case be considered provocative or insulting,” a UEFA official said in response to requests for PSG to be punished.
The UEFA’s attitude on the banners exhibited at Rams Park on Tuesday night remains unknown.
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