Barcelona have lodged a complaint with UEFA against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) regarding a controversial banner shown by the French club’s fans before their UEFA Champions League meeting at the Parc des Princes.

Unveiled by PSG supporters behind one of the goals ahead of Tuesday’s match, the banner depicted a masked figure in a PSG shirt using a chainsaw to destroy the Barcelona crest.

Underneath the image appeared the French phrase “massacre, Parisian style”.

Barcelona sharply condemned the display, calling the imagery disturbing and accusing the fans of encouraging violence and hatred in football.

In a statement to BBC Sport on Wednesday, the Spanish club said, “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.”

The La Liga Champions added that the images conveyed a message that incites violence and hatred in sport, insisting that such displays were unacceptable and contrary to the values of respect, fair play and sportsmanship.

“Football should be a space for healthy rivalry, mutual respect, and passion for the game, free from messages that promote hatred or violence,” Barcelona said.

Other banners with explicit messages were also shown during the match, which led the Spanish club to further voice its displeasure with the conduct of PSG supporters.

Barcelona’s complaint may result in disciplinary scrutiny under Article 16 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations, which bans gestures, words, objects or other means of conveying provocative messages deemed inappropriate for a sporting event.

The rules allow for disciplinary measures, including a fine of €10,000 (£8,381) for a first offence. Any potential sanction, though, would hinge on UEFA’s assessment of the incident and the disciplinary rules that apply.

The incident took attention away from parts of the Champions League match, in which PSG beat Barcelona 4-2 in the French capital.

Barcelona went into the match having won their first two games in the competition, but they suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

BBC Sport reported that it had approached UEFA and PSG for comment on the controversy. The report did not include any official response from either organisation.