Newcastle Condemn 'Unacceptable' Police Action After Marseille Defeat
Newcastle United have announced they will file an official complaint with UEFA concerning what the club describes as the "unacceptable treatment" of their supporters by French police. The incident occurred following Tuesday night's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome.
Controlled Exit Turns Chaotic
According to the club, travelling fans were held inside the stadium for approximately one hour after the final whistle as a planned safety measure. The strategy involved escorting groups of 500 supporters to the metro station to reach their designated meeting point. However, the operation quickly deteriorated.
Newcastle's statement details that once the first group was released, police began employing "unnecessary and disproportionate force" to prevent the remaining fans from proceeding. The club asserts that this was carried out using pepper spray, batons, and shields, with numerous supporters being "indiscriminately assaulted."
Distress and Crushing in the Away Sector
The situation escalated significantly in the upper concourse of the away sector, where crushing became apparent, leaving many fans visibly distressed. Newcastle staff who were present at the scene immediately intervened with the police, but reported that their efforts had limited impact on the officers' "excessive tactics."
Fans leaving the stadium expressed their "distress, frustration and anger" directly to club officials. Newcastle have since received deeply concerning witness accounts from supporters who were present during the incident.
Formal Complaint and Call for Investigation
Newcastle United have strongly condemned the police's actions, emphasising that supporter safety and welfare should always be paramount. The club confirmed it will formally raise its concerns with UEFA, Olympique de Marseille, and the French police authorities.
They are demanding a full investigation into the events to ensure lessons are learned and such behaviour is not repeated. The club has also encouraged supporters who were present to share their own accounts of the experience to aid the official complaint process.
