Barcelona report PSG to UEFA over 'chainsaw massacre' banner at Parc des Princes

FC Barcelona have filed an official complaint with UEFA after Paris Saint-Germain supporters unveiled a tifo depicting a masked man wielding a bloody chainsaw as he sliced through the Catalan club's crest. The Halloween-themed display dominated the Parc des Princes moments before Tuesday's Champions League encounter, which PSG won 4-2. Barcelona believe the image was "overly aggressive and offensive".

• Barcelona have submitted a formal complaint to UEFA over the PSG tifo.
• The banner showed a masked figure cutting the Barça badge with a bloody chainsaw alongside the phrase 'Massacre, Parisian style'.
• PSG fans also set off fireworks in the stands during the display.
• PSG beat Barcelona 4-2 thanks to late goals from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz after Lamine Yamal had equalised.
• UEFA declined to comment, but its disciplinary body usually reviews match reports before deciding on sanctions.

What the offensive PSG tifo showed

The banner unfurled at the Parc des Princes featured an explicit scene: a balaclava-clad figure holding a blood-stained chainsaw while cutting through the FC Barcelona crest. The slogan completing the composition, 'Massacre, Parisian style', reinforced the threatening tone of the image.

During the display, home supporters lit fireworks that sent sparks into the stands, an element that could aggravate any punishment if UEFA decides to open a case. The tifo was part of the Halloween atmosphere surrounding the fourth matchday of the Champions League group phase.

Barcelona's position in the UEFA complaint

The Catalan club has expressed its displeasure in writing to European football's governing body. Barcelona consider that the chainsaw imagery directed at their emblem goes beyond sporting rivalry and warrants a disciplinary response. The complaint follows a night in which Hansi Flick's side suffered their first defeat of the season.

UEFA, for its part, avoids public comment on open cases. Its disciplinary committee assesses reports from the referee and match delegates before deciding whether to open proceedings against PSG.

PSG come back to end Barcelona's unbeaten run

On the pitch, Paris Saint-Germain handed Barcelona their first loss of the campaign. Lamine Yamal had levelled the score after the hosts took the lead, but late strikes from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz sealed a 4-2 victory for the French champions. The result puts PSG in a strong position in the Champions League standings.

Injury blows for PSG after the match

The Parisian triumph came at a heavy cost in terms of injuries. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season. Ousmane Dembélé and captain Marquinhos also picked up thigh injuries during the same match and face several weeks on the sidelines.

What sanctions could PSG face for the tifo

UEFA's disciplinary regulations provide for punishments when fans display provocative, offensive or violent messages. Sanctions can range from financial fines to partial stadium closures, and even matches behind closed doors in cases deemed particularly serious or repeated.

Recent precedents show that UEFA has acted firmly over tifos containing violent or discriminatory symbols. The combination of the bloody chainsaw, the explicit slogan and the use of pyrotechnics in the stands works against the French club if the committee decides to open a case.