Soccer-PSG "stunned" after Aurier is denied UK visa

PARIS, Nov 22 ( Reuters) - Paris St Germain were left "stunned" on Tuesday at a decision by British authorities to revoke the visa of their defender Serge Aurier, preventing him from playing in a Champions League match at Arsenal.

The Ivorian will miss Wednesday's Group A game and PSG officials are furious that the decision to deny the 23-year-old a visa over a conviction for assault - a ruling the player is appealing against - was only relayed to them by British government officials on Tuesday afternoon.

"Due to a sudden about-face by the British authorities, Serge Aurier has not been allowed to travel with Unai Emery's squad for the clash away to Arsenal," PSG said on their website (www.psg.fr).

" Paris Saint-Germain is stunned by this incomprehensible situation that attacks the very integrity of the UEFA Champions League," the French champions added.

"Paris Saint-Germain strongly regrets that the presumption of innocence has not influenced Britain's decision."

Aurier was arrested in May and found guilty in September of assaulting a police officer outside a Paris nightclub after being stopped for a breath test.

The Ivory Coast international, who denied the charge, was handed a two-month jail sentence but is appealing against the verdict. (Reporting by Ian Chadband, editing by Ed Osmond)