Newcastle United, a prominent football club, has announced plans to lodge a formal complaint following an incident where their supporters were "indiscriminately assaulted by the police" after their team's defeat against Marseille at Stade Velodrome.
The club is set to raise its concerns with UEFA, Marseille and French police over the use of what they described as "unnecessary and disproportionate force" in the aftermath of Tuesday's Champions League game. According to Newcastle United, officers used pepper spray, batons and shields against fans in an action that they have deemed unacceptable. The club strongly condemned these actions stating that such treatment of their supporters was not justifiable under any circumstances.
Post-Match safety measures gone awry
As part of standard safety measures for travelling fans, Magpies supporters were supposed to be held back inside the stadium for up to one hour after the final whistle. This was intended as a precautionary measure for their own safety before being escorted in groups of 500 towards Place de la Joliette via metro - a mandatory fan meeting point established by local authorities and police in Marseille.
However, according to Newcastle United's account of events, this plan went awry when police began using excessive force once the first group was released from the ground following their 2-1 defeat.
Disproportionate force against fans
Newcastle stated that upon release of the first group from Stade Velodrome grounds post-match, law enforcement officials began using unnecessary and disproportionate force. The aim seemed to prevent remaining fans from moving any further which resulted in chaos and confusion among supporters who were merely trying follow post-match protocols put forth by local authorities.
Newcastle United released statement:
"Many supporters were visibly distressed, particularly in the upper concourse area of the away section, where crushing became apparent. Our staff immediately addressed the matter with the police, however this had limited impact on their excessive tactics.
"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. Supporter safety and welfare should always be of paramount importance, and we strongly condemn the treatment of our supporters by the police during this incident."
The club's firm stance against this incident sends a strong message to all stakeholders involved in sports events, emphasizing the importance of fan safety and respect for human rights. It also serves as a reminder that while maintaining order is crucial, it should not come at the cost of unnecessary force or violence.
