Overview
- Samir Nasri has formally pulled out of working pitchside for Canal+ at Saturday’s Champions League final in Budapest and will not travel to the Puskás Arena for the match.
- Nasri told L’Equipe that PSG supporters abused him during their semi‑final with Bayern Munich and that what upset him most was that they ‘insulted my mother.’
- Canal+ confirmed it will run its planned coverage without Nasri and has emphasised having Robert Pires and David Ginola on the panel because of their stronger emotional links to Arsenal and PSG.
- Nasri’s decision reflects deeper club rivalries: he came through Marseille and later played for Arsenal, which helps explain hostile reactions from some PSG fans.
- Separately, TNT Sports’ choice to keep UK broadcast rights behind a paywall has drawn criticism from the Football Supporters Association and political figures including Keir Starmer, who have urged the match be made free to air.