Marseille Claim Alvaro Has Received Death Threats Following Neymar Allegations

Marseille are standing by Alvaro Gonzalez after the defender was accused of racist abuse by Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, while the club have claimed that the player and his family have received death threats after their private phone numbers were leaked on social media following the incident.

Neymar was one of five players sent off at the death during Marseille's 1-0 victory over PSG after a mass brawl erupted between the two sets of players. The PSG forward hit Alvaro on the back of the head, and informed the fourth official that he had been racially abused as he departed the pitch.

He later took to Twitter to make his allegations public, and PSG have released a statement supporting their player.

Gonzalez denies the allegations, and took to Twitter at full time to clear his name. "There is no place for racism," he wrote. "Sometimes you have to learn how to lose and accept it on the field."

Marseille released a statement on their official club website which read: "Olympique de Marseille are delighted with the victory obtained yesterday against Paris Saint-Germain. This victory, obtained in a fair way, was played out on the field thanks to the constant commitment of our players, who were able to perfectly apply a previously defined strategy.

"Alvaro Gonzalez is not racist, he has shown us this by his daily behaviour since joining the club, as his teammates have already testified.

"The Club remains at the disposal of the disciplinary committee to fully cooperate in the investigation of all the events which marked this meeting, and the 24 hours which preceded them.

"This controversy is serious and already has serious consequences. The club condemns the dissemination of private telephone numbers of Alvaro Gonzalez and his relatives on Brazilian media and social networks overnight, giving rise to constant harassment, including death threats.

"The Olympique de Marseille is the very symbol of anti-racism in French professional sport, given its history and that of the city of Marseille, the diversity of its stands and the relentless struggle it leads. always to eradicate this scourge. Its players demonstrate it in their daily commitment on and off the pitch."