Architect's daughter stalls PSG's Parc des Princes expansion plans

Paris Saint-Germain have hit another major roadblock in their ambitious plans to expand the Parc des Princes, according to reports from L'Équipe and Le Parisien.

Sophie Taillibert, daughter of the legendary stadium's original architect, Roger Taillibert, has firmly voiced her opposition to the Parisian club's project to expand capacity to 70,000 seats. Preserving the architectural integrity and authentic character of her father's creation remains her top priority.

In an interview with French daily Le Parisien, the neuro-oncologist—currently based in the United Arab Emirates—revealed she has held three meetings with club hierarchy after being contacted by PSG chief executive Victoriano Melero in late June. During the discussions, she firmly pushed back against expanding the current 48,000 capacity to between 60,000 and 70,000, arguing that such an intervention would compromise the venue's structural integrity.

"My opposition is not a whim. As the guardian of my father's legacy, it is my moral duty to remain consistent and honour his vision for his work. Any major alterations pose a severe risk to the architectural integrity of this remarkable 20th-century masterpiece," Sophie Taillibert stated.

Prior to his passing in 2019, architect Roger Taillibert had similarly rejected adding more than 10,000 seats, insisting the ground would lose its unique identity, L'Équipe notes. As his direct legal successor, Sophie Taillibert holds the intellectual property rights to the design, meaning PSG are legally obligated to secure her consent before carrying out any construction work.

Despite her uncompromising stance on the scale of the expansion, Taillibert stressed that she is looking for a sensible outcome: "We all share the desire for PSG to stay at the Parc des Princes, so we have common goals. I wouldn't call the talks concluded because we are far from an agreement that satisfies both parties, but the dialogue remains constructive."

If the two sides fail to reach common ground, the dispute could head to court. A potential legal battle could drag on for 18 months to three years, effectively halting all construction work and freezing the club's development project for years, Le Parisien warns.