Newcastle Condemns 'Excessive' Police Force Against Supporters
Newcastle United has confirmed it will launch an official complaint to Uefa following what the club describes as the mistreatment of its supporters by French police after Thursday's Champions League fixture against Olympique de Marseille. The incident occurred on Thursday 27 November 2025 as fans were leaving the Stade Velodrome.
Chaotic Scenes as Police Wield Batons and Pepper Spray
According to the club, travelling Magpies fans were subjected to "unnecessary and disproportionate force" during a police escort to the Metro station after the final whistle. Supporters had been held inside the stadium for up to an hour for their own safety and were being released in controlled groups of 500 at a time. The club stated the fans were waiting "patiently and without incident".
The situation escalated dramatically after the first group was released. Police then began using pepper spray, batons, and shields to prevent the remaining fans from progressing further. Newcastle reported that numerous supporters were "indiscriminately assaulted by the police", leading to many being left "visually distressed". There were also reports of crushing in the upper concourse area of the away sector.
Club Demands Formal Investigation into Marseille Policing
Newcastle United staff who were present immediately challenged the police on their tactics, but the club says this intervention had a "limited impact on their excessive tactics". In a strongly worded statement, the club condemned the police actions and reaffirmed the "paramount importance" of supporter safety and welfare.
"We will be calling on Uefa, Olympique de Marseille and local authorities to formally investigate this matter to ensure lessons are learned and this behaviour is not repeated," the club's statement read. The club is also continuing to liaise with the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) to gather evidence on behalf of the affected supporters.
