Newcastle United is set to lodge a formal complaint with UEFA, Marseille and French police authorities after fans were subjected to what they described as "indiscriminate assaults" by officers following their side's 2-1 defeat at Stade Velodrome.
The club claims that pepper spray, batons and shields were used against supporters, while the police maintained that they only used tear gas in limited quantities. Newcastle United stated that once the first group of fans was released from the stadium, police began using "unnecessary and disproportionate force" to stop others from moving further. The club accused the French authorities of failing to ensure supporter safety and welfare.
Newcastle fans described a distressing experience as they were held back inside the stadium for over an hour after the final whistle before being escorted out in groups. Many said they witnessed "unnecessary violence," with some fans reporting being sprayed with pepper spray or subjected to baton charges.
Fans who attended the match have shared their stories, describing a chaotic scene where police used force against supporters. Some reported witnessing officers using shields and pepper spray, while others were caught up in a crowd surge that required the intervention of riot police.
The club claims that pepper spray, batons and shields were used against supporters, while the police maintained that they only used tear gas in limited quantities. Newcastle United stated that once the first group of fans was released from the stadium, police began using "unnecessary and disproportionate force" to stop others from moving further. The club accused the French authorities of failing to ensure supporter safety and welfare.
Newcastle fans described a distressing experience as they were held back inside the stadium for over an hour after the final whistle before being escorted out in groups. Many said they witnessed "unnecessary violence," with some fans reporting being sprayed with pepper spray or subjected to baton charges.
Fans who attended the match have shared their stories, describing a chaotic scene where police used force against supporters. Some reported witnessing officers using shields and pepper spray, while others were caught up in a crowd surge that required the intervention of riot police.
I'm so worried about what happened at the Stade Velodrome! It sounds like the police totally lost control and went way too hard on Newcastle fans. I mean, holding them back inside the stadium for over an hour? That's ridiculous! And using pepper spray and batons on innocent people? Not cool, not cool at all 
. The club is right to complain - it's all about fan safety, you know? The French authorities need to step up their game and make sure this doesn't happen again 
. And can we talk about how stressful it must have been for the fans who were there? I'm just imagining being in that situation, feeling like you're trapped and at the mercy of the cops 
. We should be supporting each other, not getting pummeled by police! 
This is so unfair! I mean, come on... 2-1 loss and already people are getting beat up by the cops? That's not how sports are supposed to be handled 
. The whole "indiscriminate assaults" thing sounds super sketchy to me... like, what even is that term? 
And using pepper spray? No thanks 
. The French police should really brush up on their crowd control skills 
. Newcastle fans were just trying to celebrate their team's loss and have a good time at the stadium, not cause any trouble 
. I'm all for ensuring everyone's safety, but this feels like overkill 
. It's gonna be interesting to see how UEFA handles this... fingers crossed it gets sorted out ASAP 
... 2-1 defeat and suddenly the whole stadium is a riot? I've seen some intense matches before but this sounds like something out of a bad movie. Police saying they only used tear gas, Newcastle United claiming pepper spray and batons were used too? Which one's gonna be the truth? I need to see some footage or vids from eyewitnesses to believe it wasn't just overreacting 
. And what about the supporters who were held back for over an hour? That's not cool at all... authorities should be working with clubs, not against them 
it's not cool when fans are gettin pummeled by police after a match 
1.5 million ppl in newcastle deserve better than this 
i'm really worried about the welfare of those fans, like they were held back for over an hour just waitin to be let out... and now they're talkin about complainin to uefa? 
I'm so worried about those Newcastle United fans! They went through an awful experience at the Stade Velodrome after their match against Marseille. The thought of people being subjected to "indiscriminate assaults" by officers is just heartbreaking 
. It's unacceptable that they were held back inside the stadium for over an hour and then escorted out in groups, feeling scared and disrespected 
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. I mean, 12 out of 15 of those arrested were Newcastle fans! 
. Did you see the video of the crowd surge? 
It's like something straight out of a movie! 
The fact that they were held back in the stadium for over an hour after the game is already pretty alarming, but the way the police used "unnecessary and disproportionate force" to stop others from moving further?