Barcelona have lodged a complaint with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) over a controversial banner displayed by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporters before the clubs’ UEFA Champions League encounter in Paris.
The banner, unveiled by PSG fans at the Parc des Princes ahead of Tuesday’s match, depicted a masked figure wearing a PSG shirt using a chainsaw to destroy Barcelona’s crest, alongside the French inscription, “massacre, Parisian style”.
Barcelona condemned the display, describing the imagery as disturbing and accusing the supporters of promoting violence and hatred in football.
In a statement to BBC Sport on Wednesday, the Spanish club said it strongly condemned the incident, particularly the image of a blood-covered chainsaw attacking its crest.
The club said the display conveyed a message capable of inciting violence and hatred, stressing that such conduct had no place in football.
“Football should be a space for healthy rivalry, mutual respect, and passion for the game, free from messages that promote hatred or violence,” Barcelona said.
The Spanish side also expressed concern over other banners containing explicit messages displayed during the encounter, which further fuelled its objections to the conduct of the home supporters.
Barcelona’s complaint could prompt UEFA to examine the incident under Article 16 of its disciplinary regulations, which prohibits provocative messages conveyed through gestures, words, objects or other means deemed inappropriate at sporting events.
The rules provide for disciplinary action, including a fine of €10,000 (£8,381) for a first offence. However, any punishment would depend on UEFA’s assessment of the incident and the relevant provisions of its regulations.
The controversy emerged during a fiercely contested European fixture in which PSG defeated Barcelona 4-2 at the Parc des Princes.
Barcelona had gone into the match after winning their opening two games in the competition, but the defeat marked their first loss of the campaign.
The incident has raised fresh questions about the limits of supporters’ displays during major football matches and the responsibility of clubs to ensure that stadium displays comply with UEFA regulations.
BBC Sport said it had contacted both UEFA and PSG for comments on the controversy. However, no official response from either organisation was included in its report.
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