The football world is no stranger to drama, but few incidents have caused a post-match uproar like what exploded after PSG’s crushing 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final. The French giants finally silenced their critics with a masterclass performance — but their celebration has sparked a fiery backlash that threatens to taint the club’s historic night.
In a final that will be remembered for its sheer dominance, PSG dismantled Inter Milan at Wembley Stadium in front of millions of viewers worldwide. From the first whistle to the last, Paris Saint-Germain controlled every aspect of the game. But while their performance on the pitch was near-perfect, what happened in the dressing room has ignited a PR nightmare.
And now, Inter Milan fans — and a growing chorus of neutrals — are demanding a dramatic punishment: revoke the Champions League medals of Achraf Hakimi, Manuel Ugarte Neves, and Yerson Mosquera Pacho.
Yes, you read that right.
“NO CLASS, NO SPORTSMANSHIP” – THE INCIDENT THAT SHOOK THE INTERNET
Shortly after the final whistle, PSG players returned to their changing room in jubilation. Loud music, champagne showers, flares of national flags, and impromptu dancing flooded the scene. However, it was one particular sequence of events — caught on video and now viral across social media — that has fans calling foul.
In the video, Hakimi, Neves, and Pacho can be seen mockingly chanting about Inter’s failure, forming “zero” gestures with their fingers in front of the camera while posing in front of a whiteboard that had “INTER? ZERO PRESSURE, ZERO GOALS, ZERO TROPHIES” scrawled across it. Several players burst into exaggerated laughter as others pointed at the final score displayed behind them: PSG 5 – Inter 0.
The footage also shows Hakimi draped in a Moroccan flag, dancing in front of a mock graphic that listed fictional Inter “stats” — including “0 chances created,” “0 pride,” and even a sarcastic “1 crying Lautaro.” Neves can be heard yelling, “Not even a shot worth remembering!” while Pacho adds, “This was a training session, not a final!”
While players laughed and cheered, the scene quickly spiraled into what many are calling “an embarrassing display of arrogance and poor sportsmanship.”
SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLODES WITH OUTRAGE
It didn’t take long for the internet to erupt.
The video, originally shared by a PSG staff member on Instagram, was deleted within minutes — but not before it had been downloaded and reshared across Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. What was meant to be a private moment of celebration turned into a global scandal.
Under the hashtag #RevokeTheMedals, Inter Milan fans are calling for UEFA to take disciplinary action, targeting the three players most prominently featured in the mockery: Hakimi, Neves, and Pacho.
“Celebration is one thing. Humiliation is another. UEFA must act. Revoke their medals — this is not how champions behave.” — @Interisti1908
“They didn’t just beat us, they disrespected the game. If there’s any honor left in football, those three should not keep their medals.” — @MilanLoyal
Even some PSG fans expressed discomfort.
“I’m thrilled we finally won, but this is not the PSG I want to support. Let your football speak. Don’t stoop this low.” — @ParisFanForLife
Within hours, the controversy had snowballed beyond club rivalries. Prominent football pundits weighed in, with some labeling the celebration “childish” and “borderline disgraceful.”
FOOTBALL LEGENDS JOIN THE BACKLASH
Retired football legends didn’t hold back.
Alessandro Del Piero, speaking on Italian television, said:
“You win with class, you lose with dignity. PSG won the final, yes, but lost a lot of respect in the locker room. If I were a PSG director, I’d be embarrassed.”
Gary Lineker, former England international and popular pundit, tweeted:
“Mocking your opponent after a 5-0 win? Come on. That’s a playground mentality. Celebrate your win without dragging others.”
Meanwhile, former PSG captain Thiago Silva (now retired) commented:
“I understand the emotion, but this crosses a line. The Champions League is sacred — respect it.”
UEFA RESPONSE LOOMING?
As pressure mounts, eyes now turn to UEFA. So far, the governing body has issued only a brief statement saying it is “reviewing available footage” and will determine if any violations of post-match conduct occurred.
While stripping medals is an extreme and unprecedented move, disciplinary actions — including fines or warnings — could be on the table if UEFA rules that the players breached their Code of Conduct.
An inside source from UEFA, speaking anonymously, hinted that the organization is “not happy” with the optics of the situation, especially given the Champions League’s global prestige.
PSG’S OFFICIAL RESPONSE: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE?
PSG issued a half-hearted response late Sunday evening:
“The club and its players were caught up in the emotion of a historic night. Any comments or actions that caused offense were unintentional. We offer our respect to Inter Milan, their fans, and their proud Champions League campaign.”
But for many, the apology lacked sincerity.
Football journalist Rafaël Honoré wrote:
“This wasn’t a heat-of-the-moment misstep. It was organized, filmed, and shared. The apology feels more like PR damage control than genuine remorse.”
A TARNISHED VICTORY?
For PSG, this was supposed to be the culmination of years of heartbreak, investment, and near-misses. The club’s first-ever Champions League title — after a decade of chasing European glory — should have been their crowning moment.
But now, rather than basking in the glow of footballing greatness, PSG is scrambling to contain a scandal of their own making.
Hakimi, Neves, and Pacho — three players who played pivotal roles in PSG’s dominant campaign — now find their legacies questioned, their medals contested by angry fans and pundits alike.
Whether UEFA acts or not, the damage may already be done.
THE BIGGER QUESTION: WHERE IS THE LINE IN MODERN CELEBRATION?
Football has always thrived on passion, emotion, and yes — a bit of banter. But when does celebration cross the line into humiliation?
In an era of global broadcasts and social media virality, players are under more scrutiny than ever. What might have once been an inside joke can now ignite a worldwide controversy in minutes.
This incident forces a broader conversation: should there be clearer guidelines around post-match conduct? Are we expecting too much from athletes caught in moments of adrenaline? Or is this exactly where standards should be highest?
Whatever your stance, one thing is clear — PSG’s greatest night is now also one of its most controversial. And unless UEFA intervenes, fans around the world may never see the 2025 Champions League final the same way again.
What do YOU think?
Should UEFA revoke the medals from Hakimi, Neves, and Pacho?
Is celebration fair game, or should respect always come first?
