Barcelona have filed a complaint with Uefa over a tifo shown before Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Paris St-Germain, claiming its message encouraged violence and hatred in sport.
Before the match began at the Parc des Princes, supporters behind one of the goals revealed a banner depicting a masked person wearing a PSG shirt and cutting through Barcelona’s crest with a chainsaw.
The French text beneath the illustration translated as “massacre, Parisian style”.
Other banners containing explicit messages were displayed during the game, prompting Barcelona to issue a strong condemnation of the supporters’ conduct.
Barcelona were beaten 4-2 in the French capital after winning their first two Champions League fixtures.
In a statement, the club strongly denounced the scenes surrounding the tifo, particularly the depiction of a blood-covered chainsaw striking the Barcelona badge.
Barcelona described the imagery as deeply troubling and said it communicated a message that encouraged hatred and violence in sport.
The club said such images and language were unacceptable because they conflicted with the principles of respect, fair play and sportsmanship that football should promote.
It added that football should provide an environment for healthy competition, mutual respect and passion for the game, without messages promoting violence or hatred.
Article 16 of Uefa’s disciplinary regulations states that using gestures, language, objects or other methods to communicate a provocative message unsuitable for a sporting event may lead to sanctions. A first offence can carry a fine of 10,000 euros (£8,381).
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