Botafogo mock PSG and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi with 'cowboy' statement after Club World Cup upset

Botafogo shocked Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain during their opening fixture at the Club World Cup.

Luis Enrique fielded a strong-side for their opening game in the United States but were without star forward Ousmane Dembele in California and paid the price.

The Parisiens dominated the possession but were unable to convert their chances while the Brazilian side stayed composed at the back.

Botafogo made the reigning European Champions pay in the 36th minute when soon-to-be Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus’ effort took a slight deflection past Gianluigi Donnarumma meaning the Brazilian Serie A club only require a point from their next match against Atletico Madrid to win Group B.

The game against PSG had further implications that fans might not have been aware of relating to the two club’s owners.

John Textor, whose Eagle Football Group also hold a stake in Crystal Palace, is owner of both Botafogo and Ligue 1 side Lyon.

The American clashed with PSG’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi during a meeting over Ligue 1 TV rights where Textor was told to ‘shut up’ and labelled ‘a cowboy who came from who knows where to talk to us’ by the Qatari businessman.

Back in February, Textor arrived at Lyon’s game with PSG wearing a cowboy hat in a cheeky nod to Al-Khelaifi’s comments and Botafogo have followed suit after their win in the Club World Cup, posting a picture of Textor wearing a cowboy hat to their social media channels with the caption: “The American dream. We guess the cowboy won…”

Textor has been a vocal critic of both Ligue 1 and Al-Khelaifi during the tense negotiations of the league’s TV deal.

He slammed the link between the head of Ligue 1, Vincent Labrune, and the PSG president - labelling Labrune a ‘lapdog’ for the French champions.

The American also added that he would refuse to sell any players to their rivals amid speculation that Rayan Cherki was a target for PSG as a result of his conflict with the club’s hierarchy.

He said: “I don’t want to sell a player of this quality to Nasser until we’ve shaken hands, shared a beer and decided together to help the French championship.

“Obviously, my relationship with Nasser isn’t what it used to be, but men are men and you can get past that. But for the time being, no, I won’t sell him anyone.”

PSG will face MLS side Seattle Sounders in their final group game in the Club World Cup having destroyed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in their opening fixture.

The winners and runners up of Group B will face either Inter Miami, Porto, Al-Ahly or Palmeiras in the next round.