Special Report: The Paris Derby

Below the perceived monolith of Paris Saint-Germain, Parisian football is as vibrant as ever. Red Star FC travelled to Stade Charléty to face rivals Paris FC in a rare one-city derby clash on Saturday afternoon. Les Parisiens were triumphant 4-1, but the interest in this Francilien face-off has been growing in recent years.

It was the second loss for Greg Poirier's Red Star side, who lost the previous encounter 3-1 in September's heated clash at Stade Bauer last September. At a rainy Charléty on Saturday afternoon, Les Parisiens were once again victorious thanks to a hat trick from Alimami Gory in the 8th 48th, and 78th minute before Lohann doucet fired in a fourth in injury time despite Red Star's consolation goal scored by Aliou Badi (85').

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What is the history of the Paris region derby?

Fought between two clubs with vastly differing identities and supporter groups that bitterly despise one another, it's a growing clash in French football.  The proper sense of a one-city 'derby' can rarely be applied in French football. Of course, there are plenty of regional derbies in la hexagone, including the Derby du Nord (Lille vs LOSC), Derby de la Garrone (Toulouse vs Bordeaux), and of course the famous Rhône-Alpes Derby (Saint-Étienne vs OL). Let's also not forget the clashes born out of sporting and regional rivalry, including the famous Classique (OM vs PSG) and the Olimpico (OL vs OM).

One-city derbies and rivalries are a true rarity in France, but a Parisian derby is in the last one-city fixture that took place in the top tier between Paris Saint-Germain and now-fifth tier Racing Club de France in 1989. It's a derby that has metamorphosed over the ages, along with the tumultuous fortunes of the capital's original clubs.

The different identities of Paris FC and Red Star

Paris Football Club (PFC) was founded in 1969 during a period of decline for the capital’s historic clubs. Racing Club de France had relocated to the eastern suburbs, while Red Star FC, rooted in the northern suburb of Saint-Ouen, remained tied to the French Communist Party-controlled mayorship.

PFC emerged as the envisioned "grande club du capital," merging with Division 2 side Stade Saint-Germain, located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 15km west of Paris. This merger formed Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). However, in 1972, PSG split from PFC due to the Paris mayorship’s dissatisfaction with the club playing outside the city. PFC retained a Division 1 spot and moved to the Parc des Princes, while PSG was relegated administratively to the third tier. Ironically, PSG earned promotion by 1974, coinciding with PFC's relegation. PSG then assumed control of the Parc des Princes and became Paris’s dominant club.

The rivalry between PSG and PFC remained tepid, with limited matches and little animosity between fans. In contrast, Red Star FC, founded in 1897 in Paris by Jules Rimet, developed a more heated rivalry with PFC. Their first top-tier clash in 1973 saw PFC win 3-2, beginning Red Star’s decline and eventual relegation.

The animosity peaked in 1978 during a second-tier match. Red Star, in administration, needed a win to stay in the promotion race, but PFC’s controversial 1-0 victory, aided by a dubious goal, fueled conspiracy theories of Paris City Council favoritism. Red Star plummeted into the amateur ranks, while PFC endured financial woes, ultimately leaving PSG unchallenged as Paris’s football powerhouse through the late 20th century.

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