Newcastle complain to UEFA over French police treatment of fans
MARSEILLE, France – Newcastle United will submit a formal complaint to UEFA after accusing French police of using “unacceptable and disproportionate force” on the club’s supporters following Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat away to Olympique de Marseille.
The Premier League side said travelling fans were subjected to pepper spray, batons and shields during post-match crowd control operations at Stade Vélodrome. In a statement on Wednesday, Newcastle confirmed it has contacted UEFA, Marseille and the French authorities to request an investigation.
According to the club, a pre-agreed security plan involved keeping away fans inside the stadium for about an hour before groups of supporters were escorted to public transport hubs. However, Newcastle said the situation escalated when police attempted to stop further groups from leaving, which the club described as an unnecessary and excessive response.
“Once the first group of supporters was released, the police began using unnecessary and disproportionate force,” the statement read. “Many supporters were visibly distressed, particularly in the upper concourse area of the away sector, where crushing became apparent.”
Club stewards and senior officials said they witnessed the scenes at close range and attempted to intervene, but claimed their efforts had “limited impact” on police tactics. Newcastle said it has since received multiple accounts from fans who reported distress and unsafe conditions.
The club condemned the treatment of its followers and urged supporters who were present to share testimony to assist the investigation. It called for lessons to be learned “to ensure this behaviour is not repeated.”
The incident comes as European football authorities continue to face scrutiny over matchday policing and crowd management following several recent high-profile events on the continent. Newcastle’s complaint is expected to prompt further review of safety measures at UEFA competitions.