River Plate apologise for supporters 'spitting' at Lionel Messi after Barcelona's Club World Cup win

The Argentinian national team's captain has a difficult relationship with fans in his home country

River Plate have apologised for the behaviour of their supporters after reports emerged that Lionel Messi was spat at in a Tokyo airport following Barcelona’s Club World Cup victory.

The current Copa Libertadores champions were unable to cope with the talents of the 28-year-old and his teammates during Sunday’s 3-0 defeat in the final at International Stadium Yokohama.

Despite a resilient start from River, Messi opened the scoring before two goals from Luis Suarez sealed the Catalan club’s third Club World Cup.

Supporters of the Argentinian club later found themselves nearby a group of Barcelona players at Narita International Airport and allegedly began to hurl abuse at the man widely tipped to win this year’s Ballon D’Or.

Javier Mascherano, the other Argentinian in Barcelona’s ranks, is also believed to have been targeted and head coach Luis Enrique reportedly stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating.

River have now apologised for the incident and issued a statement which reads: “In relation to the attacks on Lionel Messi at Narita airport, Club Atlético River Plate condemns all forms of violence and wishes to apologise to the player and FC Barcelona.

“River Plate congratulate Barcelona on winning the 2015 Club World Cup, held in Japan.”

The club’s president, Rodolfo D’Onofrio, also went on the record to criticise the behaviour of the fans at the airport.

“There’s always one idiot, to use a more polite way of describing these people,” he told the Fox Sports Show.

“I’ve only just read that Messi was given problems by a fan at the airport who had drank more than he should have … and did something stupid against Messi.

“Messi is the best player in Argentine football, he’s a gentleman.”

Messi, who captains the Argentinian national team, has endured a strained relationship with supporters in his home nation for a number of years, with many fans there accusing him of failing to replicate his club form for his country.