PSG condemns fans who scolded Messi and showed up in front of Neymar’s house

Paris Saint-Germain has condemned the behavior of some of the club’s supporters. Several hundred supporters chanted insulting lyrics about Lionel Messi in front of a PSG office on Wednesday and later showed up in front of Neymar’s house.

The French club published a brief statement on its own website. “Nothing justifies these actions,” it read. “As a club, we want to give our full support to the players who were the target of this scandalous behavior.”

On Wednesday, PSG fans gathered in front of an office of the club and Messi was subjected to verbal abuse:

Messi has been suspended by PSG for two weeks because he appeared to be staying in Saudi Arabia instead of appearing at training in Paris on Monday. Initially, this was not a problem because PSG’s selection would have two days off.

However, coach Christophe Galtier had withdrawn one of those days off after last Sunday’s embarrassing 3-1 home defeat against Lorient. According to L’Équipe, Messi had previously requested leave to travel to Saudi Arabia, but that request was denied.

It was the straw for some PSG supporters. They have been dissatisfied with Messi for months and miss commitment and surrender from him. The Argentine has long been linked with a return to Barcelona or a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

The sentiment surrounding Neymar is not much different. The Brazilian has also been accused of a lack of commitment.

Below is footage of PSG fans in front of Neymar’s house demanding his departure:

On Wednesday, the Collectif Ultras Paris, PSG’s hard core, drafted a statement. In it, the supporters address themselves against “parasitic” players, who they say should get involved or else just leave.

They also raised a number of other issues, such as rising ticket prices and the lack of former players on the club’s board. All of this is blamed on the Qatari investors. “If you buy a soccer club, focus on soccer,” they said.

PSG will almost certainly become France’s 11th consecutive champion this season, with a five-point lead over number two, Olympique Marseille. Yet in terms of play, it has been a difficult season. In the Champions League, the Parisians were painfully eliminated by Bayern Munich in the eighth finals.