Barcelona report PSG to UEFA over tifo inciting violence and hatred

FC Barcelona have reported Paris Saint-Germain to UEFA after a tifo displayed before Tuesday's Champions League match at Parc des Princes carried a message they say incites violence and hatred in sport. The Catalan club has strongly condemned the actions of the home supporters and asked European football's governing body to act.

• Barcelona have reported PSG to UEFA over a tifo shown before the Champions League match in Paris.
• The display featured a masked figure in a PSG shirt destroying the Barcelona badge with a chainsaw and the words 'massacre, Parisian style' in French.
• Barcelona say the images are deeply disturbing and transmit a message that incites violence and hatred.
• Article 16 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations includes fines of up to 10,000 euros for provocative messages not fit for a sports event.
• PSG won the game 4-2 after Barcelona had taken six points from their opening two Champions League matches.

What the PSG fan tifo against Barcelona showed

Before kick-off in the French capital, PSG fans behind one of the goals unveiled a large banner featuring a masked figure wearing a Paris Saint-Germain shirt. The figure was shown destroying the Barcelona crest with a chainsaw, an image that immediately drew attention on a night when all eyes were on one of the standout ties of the Champions League phase.

Underneath the image, written in French, were the words 'massacre, Parisian style'. Explicit messages could also be seen on other banners during the match, and Barcelona have strongly condemned the behaviour of the home supporters throughout the evening.

Barcelona's official position before UEFA

The Catalan club has made its position clear in a statement after the incident. Barcelona described the scenes in the stands as deeply disturbing, highlighting the image of a blood-covered chainsaw attacking their crest as a message that incites violence and hatred in sport.

We consider this kind of imagery and language unacceptable as it goes against the values of respect, fair play and sportsmanship that should be upheld in football.

Barcelona argue that football should remain a space for healthy rivalry, mutual respect and passion for the game, free from messages that promote hatred or violence. The club has therefore decided to take the matter to UEFA and request a response from the governing body.

How UEFA's disciplinary regulations address provocative tifos

UEFA's disciplinary framework gives the organisation room to act in cases like this. Article 16 of the regulations covers the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is not fit for a sports event. Disciplinary measures can include a fine of 10,000 euros for a first offence.

The rule exists to keep stadiums free from messages that cross the line between rivalry and provocation. Barcelona's complaint will test how UEFA applies its own regulations to a tifo shown during one of the most high-profile fixtures in the Champions League calendar.

Barcelona's defeat in Paris after a strong Champions League start

The controversy unfolded on a difficult night for Barcelona on the pitch. The Spanish side lost 4-2 at Parc des Princes, their first defeat of this Champions League campaign after winning their opening two matches. The result leaves them with work to do in the remaining games of the league phase.

PSG, meanwhile, have started their Champions League defence with three straight wins and are firmly established among the favourites to lift the trophy. The match now leaves two separate storylines: the sporting outcome on the pitch and the potential disciplinary process that could follow Barcelona's formal complaint.

Frequently asked questions about Barcelona's complaint against PSG