PSG involved in bizarre dispute with London rapper M.I.A over use of shirt in music video that tackles migrant crisis

M.I.A posted a letter she received from Paris Saint-Germain calling for her record company to remove the video immediately

PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain have found themselves at the centre of a bizarre legal dispute with London-born rapper M.I.A after she appeared in a music video wearing one of the club’s shirts that had been altered to create a different phrase with the main sponsor, ‘Fly Emirates’.

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, better known by her stage name of M.I.A, posted a letter sent through to her record company, Universal Music, in which it complains about the use of a PSG shirt during the video for Borders – a song about the migrant crisis that has seen millions of refugees flee war-torn countries such as Syria.

PSG’s main kit sponsor, ‘Fly Emirates’ had been changed to read ‘Fly Pirates’, and the club has reacted angrily to the inclusion of the kit in the video without their prior consent.

A letter sent from PSG’s deputy CEO Jean Claude Blanc requested that any broadcasting of the images or clips showing the PSG shirt be halted immediately, and requested compensation for “the harm we have suffered”.

“We consider that the use of our brand and image in a video clip denouncing the treatment of refugees is a source of discredit to our club and distorts its public communication policy,” Blanc says in the letter.

Blanc adds that PSG have “a remarkable impressive track record, as it notably won the French national championship five times, the French cup nine times, the League’s Cup five times and the European Cup once,” although they haven’t actually won the Champions League in their history with only the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup.

PSG’s communication department has since confirmed to Press Association that although they want to protect the club’s image, no legal action has been taken so far, and M.I.A appeared to dismiss the letter when she posted it on her Twitter account along with a second tweet which read: “Me and sports – it’s a love hate thing.”

London-born rapper M.I.A (Getty Images)

However, she also explained the reason behind including the Parisian club’s shirt in the video, admitting that it was supposed to be a tribute to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks.

“BORDERS came out the day of Paris Memorial Day ceremony for victims of Paris attack. Having an Eiffel Tower on my tee was support I thought,” she wrote.

At time of writing, Universal Music had not removed the video nor blocked online access to it.