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Samir Nasri, the former Arsenal and Marseille star, has decided to step down from his role as a pundit for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest after being subjected to verbal abuse from PSG fans. The retired French midfielder faced hostile chants from the PSG ultras during the semi-final in Munich, prompting him to avoid a repeat of the situation during the final.

According to French outlet Le Parisien, Nasri will not be travelling to Budapest for the much-awaited final. Initially, broadcaster Canal+ had listed him among its on-site analysts, but his name was later removed from the updated list submitted to UEFA.

The final brings together two domestic league champions — defending European winners PSG, who reached the final after a thrilling 6-5 aggregate triumph over Bayern Munich, and Arsenal, who beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 over two legs. Nasri’s decision to withdraw stems from his determination to steer clear of the aggressive atmosphere he experienced in Munich’s Allianz Arena.

PSG’s fanbase is known for its passion, and many of their ultras still associate Nasri strongly with his time at Marseille, where he made 166 appearances before moving to the Premier League. This long-standing rivalry intensified the animosity in Munich, as Nasri was insulted throughout the live broadcast. While former PSG winger David Ginola received applause from the crowd, Nasri faced unrelenting abuse — a stark contrast that highlighted the ongoing hostility. The taunting reportedly continued even after the game ended, influencing his decision to withdraw from pitch-side coverage.

Confirming the reports to L’Equipe, Nasri said, “Yes, it’s true. But it’s part of the game as a former Marseille player to get insulted by Parisian fans… Even if I think they had other things to do, like celebrating qualifying for the final (smiles).”

He added, “What bothered me was that they insulted my mother... That’s not why I’m not going to Budapest for the final. It’s not the first time I’ve been insulted in a stadium, and it certainly won’t be the last. And if I let it get to me, I’d stop doing TV and I’d stop going to matches,” he remarked. “It’s PSG-Arsenal — it makes more sense to have Robert Pires, who’s a die-hard Gunners fan, and David Ginola, who’s a passionate PSG supporter, rather than someone neutral like me on the panel. Arsenal is also my former club, but I don’t have an extraordinary relationship with its supporters.”

The taunts from PSG fans escalated when sections of the crowd used megaphones to repeatedly chant “pay your taxes” — a dig at Nasri over a reported tax dispute. In March, French newspaper Les Echos claimed that tax authorities had seized assets worth around €5.5 million due to alleged unpaid taxes. The case reportedly revolves around Nasri’s residency status in Dubai, with authorities asserting that he spent over 200 days a year in France. Investigators allegedly cited 212 food orders made via Deliveroo to his Paris address as evidence of his stay. Nasri’s legal team has strongly denied the claims, but the controversy intensified the abuse he faced during the semi-final.

Despite withdrawing from pitch-side duties, the 38-year-old will still be part of Canal+’s coverage this weekend. After Saturday’s blockbuster final, Nasri is set to appear in the Paris studio for post-match analysis alongside Mickael Landreau, offering his expert views in a more controlled and secure environment away from the stadium crowds.