River Plate apologises to Lionel Messi after alleged spitting incident

Defeated World Club Cup finalist River Plate has issued an apology to Lionel Messi after he was apparently spat at following Barcelona's victory in Yokohama on Sunday.

Messi opened the scoring in the 3-0 win, but was subject to abuse at Tokyo's Narita airport as Barca left for Europe. Fans of the losing Argentinian club targeted the captain of the country's national team.

(Courtesy: as)

"In relation to the attack suffered by Lionel Messi at Narita airport, Club Atletico River Plate repudiates any type of violence and offers its apologies to the player and to FC Barcelona," the club said in a statement, according to ESPN FC.

"At the same time, River Plate wishes to congratulate Barcelona for winning the 2015 World Club Cup played in Japan."

River Plate president Rodolfo D'Onofrio had previously condemned the actions of a small minority of the club's supporters, and praised Messi's sportsmanship during the final.

"There's always some idiot, to put it mildly," D'Onofrio told FOX Sports.

"I've just read that Messi had problems in the airport with some fan. Messi is the best player of Argentinian football, he's a gentleman. When he scored the goal he raised his hands apologising."

Sunday's win, which was topped off with a brace from Luis Suarez, was the third winners' medal Messi has collected in the Club World Cup. His previous successes were in 2009 and 2011.