Bayern Munich’s fans have risked the wrath of UEFA once again by printing counterfeit €500 notes featuring Neymar’s face and hurling them at the Brazilian star during their Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.
A wad of the fake bills were thrown at Neymar as he walked over to take a corner in the 34th minute of Bayern’s 3-1 win on Tuesday night.
Neymar, the world’s most expensive footballer following his £198m move from Barcelona to PSG last summer, definitely noticed the stunt, but simply cleared them away with his boot.
Bayern Munich fans printed fake €500 notes with Neymar’s face on them after they were charged by UEFA for protesting against ticket prices in their last game in Anderlecht
The fake €500 notes featuring Neymar’s face were thrown onto the field as he took a corner
The notes can be seen fluttering down from the stands to the right of the picture as Neymar walks over to take a corner in the 34th minute
The Brazilian star clearly noticed the notes but simply cleared them away with his boot
It comes after UEFA charged the Bundesliga champions for a fan protest over extortionate ticket prices charged by Anderlecht in their last Champions League match in Brussels last month.
Bayern fans were charged €100 for their tickets at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, a considerable shock given the very cheap prices charged in German grounds.
That led to a protest in which Bayern fans threw fake money onto the pitch during the game and held up banners reading: ‘Is your gr€€d now finally satisfi€d? 100€?’
Play was briefly halted and UEFA charged Bayern over an ‘illicit banner’ and the ‘throwing of objects.’ That case is set to be heard by UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary on Thursday, with Bayern potentially facing a fine.
And now they could be in further trouble following the Neymar protest. The €500 notes were an exact replica of the real thing but had Neymar’s face superimposed in the middle.
The Bayern fans also held up banners referencing their charge by UEFA for the protest against ticket prices at Anderlecht last month
The Bayern fans demanded that UEFA and Anderlecht pay back the €100 ticket price
They also held up banners protesting against the UEFA charge from the Anderlecht game, reading: ‘Throwing fake money is charged. But exploiting our football is fine?’ Another read: ‘UEFA/RSCA [Anderlecht] return the money. You’ve ripped us off!’
It appeared to also be a protest against PSG’s mockery of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations by signing Neymar for a sum more than double the existing world record fee.
PSG are also bankrolled by Qatari wealth and have been able to spend their way to the French league title in four of the last five seasons as well as a succession of domestic cup successes.
However, some fans of other clubs quickly took to Twitter to point out the hypocrisy of Bayern’s position.
The club have spent their last four winter breaks at training camps in Qatar and have the Hamad International Airport in Qatar as one of their ‘Platinum Partners.’
It wasn’t the best night for Neymar and PSG as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Bayern
Neymar takes on a packed Bayern defence during Tuesday night’s loss at the Allianz Arena
It wasn’t a good night for the 25-year-old Brazilian all-round as PSG were beaten 3-1, though Bayern’s margin of victory at the Allianz Arena wasn’t enough to knock PSG off top spot in Champions League Group B.
Bayern took an eighth-minute lead through Robert Lewandowski, before Corentin Tolisso doubled the lead with a header just before the break.
Although Kylian Mbappe, another big money PSG signing, halved the deficit, Tolisso slotted in a third to make absolutely sure of victory 20 minutes from time.
Both PSG and Bayern advance into Monday’s last-16 draw.
Corentin Tolisso celebrates after scoring his second and Bayern Munich’s third
Robert Lewandowski put Bayern ahead after just seven minutes but despite the result PSG still finish top of Group B
Kylian Mbappe headed home from Edinson Cavani’s wonderful flick to halve the deficit