Photo Credit: Getty Images
Newcastle United plans to file a formal complaint after supporters were reportedly assaulted by police following the team's defeat to Marseille at Stade Velodrome. The club intends to raise the matter with Uefa, Marseille officials and French police, citing what it described as unnecessary and disproportionate force used after Tuesday's Champions League match.
According to Newcastle, officers used pepper spray, batons and shields in ways the club deemed unacceptable. They strongly condemned what they called the mistreatment of their travelling fans. Supporters were supposed to remain inside the stadium for up to an hour for safety reasons, then be escorted in groups of 500 to the metro for transport back to the designated fan area at Place de la Joliette.
However, Newcastle reported that once the first set of fans left following the 2-1 loss, police began using force to prevent the remaining supporters from moving. The club said many were visibly distressed, particularly in the upper concourse where crushing began to occur. Staff raised concerns with police on site, but said this had little effect. Newcastle added that fans shared feelings of fear and frustration, and the club has since received concerning accounts from those who attended.
Season ticket holder Liam Phillips said the experience felt inhumane. He emphasised that local residents were friendly but claimed police struck supporters without cause as those at the front were pushed toward officers. He said he spent nearly ten hours in difficult conditions to watch a short match and felt fans were treated like criminals despite acting peacefully. Another supporter, Darren Curry, noted that the concourses were flooded after toilets overflowed, forcing fans to stand in urine while waiting. He described the atmosphere as unsafe and said it was fortunate no one suffered serious harm.
Marseille police denied excessive force and said only a small amount of tear gas was used in response to a crowd surge that affected around 20 fans. Marseille's football club stated that all procedures followed Uefa guidelines and that facilities remained accessible. They said the toilet overflow resulted from vandalism.
The Football Supporters' Association called for major improvements in Marseille's handling of visiting fans. The incident comes amid broader concerns about matchday safety in France, raised by previous complaints from English clubs and criticism of police practices by supporter groups.
