French liquor company Pernod Ricard, best known in France for the anise-flavored aperitif pastis, said on Thursday it has scrapped a new sponsorship deal with Paris Saint-Germain after protests from Marseille.

Pernod Ricard SA has scrapped a global partnership with French football champions Paris Saint-Germain after just a few days, following a backlash due to the distiller’s ties with another city in France.

French drinks firm Pernod Ricard said Thursday it has scrapped a proposed sponsorship deal with soccer giants Paris Saint Germain after fans of bitter rivals Marseille threatened a boycott.Pernod Ricard’s headquarters these days are actually in Paris but after Marseille fans protested the company conceded defeat.

Pastis is consumed in all regions of France, but it is particularly popular in the south of the country, where Marseille native Paul Ricard commercialized the drink under his name in 1932. Pernod Ricard was created in 1975 following a merger of Pernod and Ricard, which brought together two French anise-based spirits.

PARIS (Reuters) -French drinks and spirits company Pernod Ricard on Thursday said it would drop its plans to sponsor the country's reigning soccer champions Paris St Germain after facing a storm of criticism from fans saying the brand belonged to PSG's rivals Marseille.