Paris St Germain have criticised Joey Barton after the Marseille midfielder used social networking website Twitter to liken Thiago Silva to an "overweight ladyboy".
In a series of tweets published through his official account, the on-loan QPR player questioned whether Brazilian defender Silva was "pre-op or post-op" and demanded an explanation why the 28-year-old had mentioned him in his pre-match press conference ahead of last night's Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona.
The Ligue 1 leaders tonight expressed their unhappiness with Barton's "unacceptable remarks" and threatened to "take action" against the former England international.
A statement published on psg.fr read: "In the last few hours, on social networks, unacceptable remarks have been made by Olympique Marseille player Joey Barton against Paris St Germain player Thiago Silva.
"These attacks are serious and go beyond mere verbal jousting. The directors of the club, the players and the coaching staff are supportive of Thiago Silva and cannot accept such statements.
"They reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the values of respect that should govern our sport.
"Thiago Silva and Paris St Germain reserve the right to take any action they deem necessary."
PSG have taken issue with a series of tweets against the player which began to appear on Barton's account from yesterday afternoon.
Barton originally tweeted: "Thiago Silva. That the same p**** thats been injured all season. Another over rated Brazilian. Sort your hamstrings out FatBoy..."
The Liverpudlian was responding negatively to comments from Silva ahead of last night's game at the Parc des Princes, which finished 2-2 ahead of next week's second leg at the Nou Camp.
He continued tweeting during the game, adding: "Have to take back what I said about Thiago Silva being over rated today. Been immense tonight. Still looks like a overweight ladyboy though!
"2 questions for Thiago Silva. Firstly, Why are YOU talking about ME, in your press conference before PSG v Barca? Very strange.
"Secondly, Are you Pre-Op or Post-Op? #transsexual #thiagosaladyboy
"Baffles me, which way he's going. Is he a man changing to a woman or a woman changing to a man? Can't work it out."
Speaking to L'Equipe on Monday, Silva had said: "There is a Marseille player, I cannot remember his name, an Englishman, who has said bad things about Neymar and Brazilian football, and also about (David) Beckham and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic.
"Because no one is talking about him, it seems it is fun for him to criticise great players for people to know he exists."
Marseille later issued a statement on club website www.om.net apologising for Barton's remarks and promising an immediate end to the episode.
It read: "Olympique de Marseille and Joey Barton are keen to apologise to Thiago Silva and his club for the inappropriate comments made by the English player on social networks during the past 36 hours.
"This morning, the management asked Joey Barton to put an end to the attack on PSG's Brazilian defender. The Marseille midfielder pledged to immediately cease the posting of anything derogatory about Thiago Silva."
