Football: PSG players heckled by irate fans

Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder Marco Verratti reacts on the pitch after Barcelona's midfielder Sergi Roberto scored his team's victory goal during the UEFA Champions League round match on March 8, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

(REUTERS) - Police have launched an investigation after Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) players were confronted by angry supporters upon their return to the French capital on Wednesday following their 6-1 Champions League defeat in Barcelona, the Ligue 1 club has said.

The French champions went into the last 16 second leg tie with a 4-0 advantage from the first leg but the Spanish champions scored three goals in the last seven minutes to stage the most incredible turnaround in Champions League history and win 6-5 on aggregate.

Upon their return to Paris, the club alleges the travelling party were verbally abused and several vehicles damaged at Bourget Airport, while club staff, players and their families had to be escorted from the scene.

"On Wednesday night... the Paris Saint-Germain players were confronted and threatened by several individuals at Bourget Airport," PSG said on its website (www.psg.fr/en).

The club added that the crowd was "physically threatening the players and their families".

"A police investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened... The Club strongly condemns the actions and behaviour of the individuals in question."

Barcelona became the first team in Champions League history to overturn a four-goal deficit in a knockout tie, with the feat being hailed as the greatest comeback in the tournament.

Several PSG players apologised to fans in the wake of the defeat, which club president Nasser Al Khelaifi described as a "nightmare".

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