Barcelona have submitted a complaint to UEFA regarding an inflammatory banner shown by Paris Saint-Germain supporters prior to a Champions League fixture. The Halloween-inspired tifo presented a masked person using a chainsaw to cut up Barcelona's badge.
The Catalan side considers the imagery excessively hostile and disrespectful. They plan to notify UEFA's match delegate about the tifo, which was unfurled by PSG's ultras and portrayed the damaging of Barcelona's crest. The banner included the French phrase 'Massacre à la parisienne', meaning 'A Parisian-style massacre'.
UEFA's disciplinary committee will now review match reports to decide if the complaint leads to any formal steps or penalties. The organization chose not to provide remarks on the matter right after the game. Submitting a report to the delegate does not guarantee that disciplinary measures will follow.
Match context
The tifo was shown at PSG's stadium before the home team earned a decisive win. The outcome handed Barcelona their initial loss this term and ended a long run of consecutive victories. The scoring was opened, and later goals confirmed the win for the reigning European titleholders. Barcelona responded with goals on two occasions.
Barcelona allowed a high number of shots on goal in the first half, a defensive performance not seen in many years. Supporters also set off pyrotechnics to create the effect of sparks from the chainsaw during the display, and flares were lit following PSG's opening goal.
Injury impact
The game resulted in physical issues for players from both teams. A PSG player exited early with a potential thigh problem. Another required help after a knee problem, and the team's captain also had to leave the pitch in the same period. Those two PSG players are expected to be absent for a period of time. A Barcelona player sustained an injury not long into the match.
Barcelona now need to regroup ahead of their upcoming match against Real Madrid. PSG's next game is a key league encounter against Lyon, where their coach is anticipated to make many changes because of the player absences.
More detail at The Independent
