Newcastle to lodge official complaint to UEFA over treatment of fans
Newcastle United plans to officially complain to UEFA regarding the “unacceptable treatment” their fans experienced following a 2-1 defeat at Marseille during the Champions League, reports BritPanorama.
The Premier League club has accused French police of employing pepper spray, batons, and shields against supporters after the match at Stade Velodrome on Tuesday night.
A club statement indicated, “We will be formally raising our concerns with UEFA, Olympique de Marseille and French police in relation to the unacceptable treatment of our supporters by police at Stade Velodrome following Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture.”
Newcastle claims that travelling fans were held inside the stadium for an hour as a safety precaution, subsequently leading to complications with post-match arrangements. Groups of 500 were allegedly escorted towards the metro, but issues escalated when police reportedly used excessive force to prevent further movement by supporters.
The club reiterated, “Once the first group of supporters was released, the police began using unnecessary and disproportionate force to stop the remainder of our fans from moving any further.” This approach was purportedly implemented through a combination of pepper spray, batons, and shields, with numerous supporters allegedly assaulted.
Newcastle explained that many supporters appeared visibly distressed, especially in the upper concourse area of the away sector where crowding was evident. “Our staff immediately addressed the matter with the police; however, this had limited impact on their excessive tactics,” the statement continued.
The club added: “Fans leaving the stadium rightly shared their distress, frustration, and anger with our staff, and we have subsequently received deeply concerning witness reports from supporters who were in attendance.” Newcastle emphasised the paramount importance of supporter safety and welfare, strongly condemning the way their fans were treated during this incident.
In light of the events, Newcastle has announced plans to contact relevant authorities to initiate an investigation into the incident, advocating for lessons to be learned to prevent a recurrence of such behaviour. They have also urged fans to share their experiences.
Despite leading 1-0 during the match through Harvey Barnes’ early goal, Newcastle succumbed to a 2-1 defeat. The Magpies had shown promise early on, but the second half saw former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang score two quick goals to turn the tide in Marseille’s favour.
With only one victory in their last eight away matches, Newcastle’s upcoming fixtures will test their resolve further, starting with a challenging trip to Everton followed by a European clash against Bayer Leverkusen, who recently triumphed over Manchester City.
Manager Eddie Howe remarked post-match, “We need the intent to go for more goals in games. The intent was there. Perhaps our press was not as intense as it has been. One-nil is a delicate scoreline, and we did not defend well enough.” The looming fixtures present both a challenge and an opportunity for Newcastle, as they seek to bounce back from this setback, facing not only their opponents but the scrutiny of their supporters and authorities alike.
