The reaction came almost before the match had kicked off. Michael Laudrup, sitting in a Danish TV studio ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League tie with Barcelona on Tuesday night, could not hide his disgust at the home supporters’ pre-match choreography: A masked figure in a PSG shirt driving a bloodied chainsaw through the Barcelona crest, with pyrotechnics firing from the blade and the words “Massacre, Parisian style” running beneath.
The former attacking midfielder, who played for Barcelona and won La Liga with the club before later moving to Real Madrid, called the display unacceptable on air.
“It is below all criticism,” he said, according to newspaper Ekstra Bladet‘s report from the studio.
Barcelona’s statement to UEFA
Barcelona did not hide their anger either. After losing 4-2 at the Parc des Princes, the Catalan club filed a formal complaint with UEFA over what their delegation described, via a source speaking to ESPN, as a tifo that was “overly aggressive and offensive”.
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In an official statement, the club went further.
“The club strongly condemns the incidents that took place when the tifo was displayed in the stands, including the images of a blood-covered chainsaw attacking the Barca crest.”
“These images were deeply disturbing and conveyed 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.”
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PSG signed off on the display
Part of what has sharpened Barcelona’s complaint is that the tifo was not freelance work by the Collectif Ultras Paris. Under Champions League host-club rules, all large stand displays must be submitted for approval in advance, and PSG’s management signed this one off, according to L’Equipe reporting carried by Footmundo.
Separate banners reading “Puta Barca” were also displayed and were ordered down at Barcelona’s request. The chainsaw tifo was then formally flagged to UEFA’s match delegate after full time.
The result on the pitch snapped Barcelona’s 11-match winning run. Désiré Doué, Lucas Hernández, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz scored for PSG; Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal replied for the visitors.
Next step sits with UEFA
The report now goes to UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, which decides whether to open proceedings against PSG. Any sanction, from a fine to a partial closure of the Parc des Princes for a future European tie, would come from that panel.
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