Newcastle United has announced it will lodge formal complaints with UEFA, the French police, and Olympique de Marseille following disturbing incidents on Tuesday night. The club alleges that officers used 'unnecessary and disproportionate force' against its supporters after the 2-1 Champions League defeat at the Stade Vélodrome.
Allegations of Indiscriminate Force
The Magpies have released a strong statement condemning the actions of the police, which they claim included the use of pepper spray, batons, and shields on fans. The trouble reportedly began after the match, during the standard procedure of containing away supporters to prevent clashes with home fans. The plan was to hold Newcastle fans for up to an hour before escorting them in groups of 500 to the metro, which would take them to a mandatory meeting point at Place de la Joliette.
However, the club asserts that after the first batch of supporters was released peacefully, police resorted to forceful measures to prevent the remaining fans from following. 'Many supporters were visibly distressed, particularly in the upper concourse area of the away sector, where crushing became apparent,' Newcastle said. Club staff attempted to intervene with the police but reported that their efforts had 'limited impact on their excessive tactics.'
A Contested Narrative
In stark contrast to the club's account, the Marseille police insist their operation was largely smooth. They acknowledged that a 'crowd surge' towards the end of the operation required the intervention of CRS riot police. They stated that one officer made 'very limited use of tear gas,' which caused discomfort to around 20 fans for a few minutes. The police claim that no other force was used, no injuries were reported, and no other complaints were filed following the event.
This incident threatens to become another stain on the French authorities' reputation for handling major football matches, echoing the severe organisational failures witnessed at the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris.
Formal Investigation and Fan Welfare
Newcastle United has made it clear that supporter safety is non-negotiable. 'Supporter safety and welfare should always be of paramount importance, and we strongly condemn the treatment of our supporters by the police during this incident,' the club declared. They are calling on UEFA, Marseille, and local authorities to launch a formal investigation to ensure such behaviour is not repeated.
The club is continuing to gather evidence and is liaising with the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU). They have also invited any fans who were in attendance to come forward and share their experiences to aid the official complaint.
