In his new book, Red Star Paris: More Than Just A Football Club, journalist Simon Binns charts the turbulent, compelling and often chaotic story of one of Europe’s most distinctive football institutions. From ultras and identity to investment funds and gentrification, Red Star FC is a club where football, politics and Parisian culture collide.
We caught up with him to talk about what drew him in, what he witnessed, and why this story matters now more than ever.
What first drew you personally to the story of Red Star, and when did you realise this was more than just another club under threat?
“I’ve been going to Paris for years as my cousin lives there and every trip I’d hear less about PSG and more about this other club: Red Star. I’ve always gravitated toward the more authentic, less polished end of football, so the more locals talked about Red Star, the more intrigued I became.
“Eventually I hopped on the metro and went to see for myself. I already knew they had that “cool club” aura like St. Pauli or Union Berlin, but once I got there, it became clear this wasn’t just a hipster badge. It was a club with deep roots, real tension, real soul and a real fight on its hands.”
You followed the club through two dramatic seasons. How did the battles between fans and ownership shape the narrative of the book?
“My background includes working with Supporters Direct, helping fans fight for influence at their clubs, often against owners who weren’t necessarily aligned with the community.
“At Red Star, I saw the same story playing out but at higher stakes. My first visit coincided with the fallout from Patrice Haddad selling the club to 777 Partners, the Miami-based investment fund. Fans were furious. You could feel the distrust.
“Red Star is steeped in history, was founded in 1897 by Jules Rimet himself , yet it was now entangled in a very modern conflict: multi-club ownership, remote decision-making, and a local fanbase deeply protective of the club’s identity.
“It was clear right away that the battle for Red Star’s future was going to be dramatic. And it absolutely was.”
Spending time with the ultras and wider supporter base, what did you learn about how fans can still influence modern football?
“In France, fan ownership isn’t common like it is in Germany or Spain, but what France does have is a powerful rebel spirit.
“At Red Star, 200 or 300 ultras in a 2,000-strong crowd create the noise of 20,000. They believe they’re custodians of the club’s cultural DNA and they act like it.
“One early flashpoint was Haddad telling them: “You don’t own the club’s DNA – I do.” That went down exactly as you’d imagine. Protests, walk-offs, matches halted. The ultras simply refused to be ignored.
“Their influence is huge, and witnessing it up close showed me that fan power is far from dead. At Red Star, it’s alive, organised, loud and absolutely central to the club’s identity.”
Multi-club ownership models are spreading fast. Is there a danger that community-led clubs like Red Star are being left behind?
“There are around 280 clubs globally now tied into multi-club ownership structures, and fans simply can’t compete financially with the groups buying them. We’re talking tens or hundreds of millions, sometimes more.
“American investors in particular seem to view owning a European football club the way the rest of us might view buying a new pair of trainers. They want one, so they get one.
“But multi-club ownership doesn’t have to be a bad thing if the owners understand the club’s identity and treat it as something to build on, not bulldoze.
“That’s all Red Star fans really want: honesty, respect, and a commitment to the things that make Red Star unique. It doesn’t seem too much to ask.”
You talk about identity as a club’s unique selling point. Do modern investors understand that?
“They should. If you’re buying a brand, why make it identical to every other brand?
“People inside Red Star like former chief executive Pauline Gamet or David Bellion, who was creative director for years really understood that. They were committed to doubling down on the club’s heritage, creativity and political identity. That’s what sets Red Star apart.
“But inevitably you get owners who see an opportunity: redevelop the stadium, win promotion, multiply the value, sell. With the Bauer being rebuilt into a modern 10,000-seater, some of that original character has already been lost. And if they reach Ligue 1 soon, the temptation to cash out will be huge.
“Red Star is caught between authenticity and ambition and the outcome is still uncertain.”
Your access to people inside and around the club from David Bellion to staff and locals was remarkable. How crucial was that in writing the book?
“It was essential. And I’m grateful because they knew the book would show all sides of the story, not just the comfortable ones, and they were open anyway.
“But I also wanted voices from beyond the boardroom:
“Yatin, who runs the legendary bar opposite the stadium the local pizza shop owner wrestling with gentrification supporters torn between wanting success and fearing what success might cost
“All these perspectives were needed to tell the real Red Star story.
“And yes, spending time with people like David Bellion was a treat. I still speak to him. I remember once meeting him for a coffee in the Marais and he had to dash off to meet Djibril Cissé and Ryan Babel about a modelling project. I joked that all we needed was a keeper and we’d have a decent five-a-side team. He just shrugged and said he’d bring Fabien Barthez.
“That’s Red Star: creative, chaotic, glamorous, political and everything happening at once. And almost everyone in Saint-Ouen has an opinion about it.”
Simon Binns’s Red Star Paris: More Than A Football Club – Punks, Politics and Power Struggles in the Fight for the Coolest Club on Earth is available now from Pitch Publishing.
Featured image courtesy of Pitch Publishing.
Callum McFadden 