PSG Granted Extra Locker Room After Super Cup Venue Complaint
RTHK · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Paris Saint-Germain will face Aston Villa in the European Super Cup at Salzburg's Red Bull Stadium in Austria on Thursday morning Hong Kong time. After expressing dissatisfaction about being assigned a cramped away team locker room, UEFA granted PSG an additional room typically reserved for referees. The French champions brought 20 players to Austria, including recent arrival Lucas Digne from Villa, as they seek to defend their Super Cup title against the Europa League winners.
Key Points
- PSG complained to UEFA on Monday about their away team locker room being significantly smaller than Villa's home dressing room
- UEFA responded by allocating one of the referee's backup locker rooms to PSG, giving both teams comparable space
- The French champions brought 20 players to Austria, including new signing Lucas Digne who joined from Villa on Sunday
- Villa is competing as the reigning Europa League champions, marking their first Super Cup appearance since 1982
- Somali referee Mathue Athletic will become the first non-European official to officiate a European Super Cup after being denied entry to the US during the World Cup
Why It Matters
The incident highlights how even logistical details can become significant at Europe's highest club level, with PSG's status as Champions League holders giving them enough leverage to prompt UEFA into action . For Villa, the match represents their return to continental competition's grandest stage after 42 years, while the historic appointment of a non-European referee underscores UEFA's commitment to globalising the sport .
The incident highlights how even logistical details can become significant at Europe's highest club level, with PSG's status as Champions League holders giving them enough leverage to prompt UEFA into action . For Villa, the match represents their return to continental competition's grandest stage after 42 years, while the historic appointment of a non-European referee underscores UEFA's commitment to globalising the sport .