Marseille hit back at Newcastle United after UEFA complaint & David Hopkinson intervention
Newcastle United’s battle has continued following Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Marseille at Stade Velodrome
Marseille have hit back at Newcastle United’s statement and subsequent UEFA complaint surrounding the treatment of supporters at Stade Velodrome.
Over 3,000 travelling supporters attended the 2-1 Champions League defeat at Stade Velodrome on Tuesday night. Newcastle fans were in the stadium over three hours before kick-off and were held back over an hour after the full-time whistle.
Although the plans for supporters were arranged and agreed between the club’s in advance, Newcastle criticised the ‘unnecessary and disproportionate force’ its supporters experienced from the French police following the full-time whistle.
Newcastle chief executive officer David Hopkinson also spoke directly with UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis regarding the treatment of away supporters in Marseille.
Newcastle United issue statement - here it is in full
On Thursday, Newcastle published an official club statement which read: “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 Vélodrome following Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture.
“Following the final whistle, our supporters were required to remain in the stadium for a period of up to one hour on the instruction of local authorities to ensure their safety when leaving the stadium. ‘Plans were in place to move 500 supporters at a time, with a police escort to the Metro station for onward travel to Place de la Joliette. Our supporters were in good spirits despite the disappointing result and waited patiently and without incident during the hold back period.
“The post-match operation was observed at close quarters by our stewards and senior staff.
“Unnecessary and disproportionate force
“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 was actioned through a combination of pepper spray, batons and shields, with numerous supporters being indiscriminately assaulted by the police.
“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.
“Next steps
“We will be calling on UEFA, Olympique de Marseille and local authorities to formally investigate this matter to ensure lessons are learned and this behaviour is not repeated. ‘We are continuing to liaise with the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) as we gather evidence on behalf of our supporters.
“Were you in attendance?
“We would like to hear from supporters affected by this incident as we collate as much supporting information as possible. This will also be shared with UEFA, UKFPU and the Football Supporters Europe organisation. ‘Supporters who wish to share their witness report should email [email protected].”
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Marseille respond to Newcastle United statement
Marseille issued a statement in response to Newcastle’s accusations, claiming that the systems put in place and agreed between the clubs, UEFA and the French police were compliant and ‘proceeded smoothly’.
The statement read: “Olympique de Marseille has taken note of the statement published by Newcastle United FC following the Champions League match played this Tuesday at the Orange Vélodrome.
“The Club reiterates that the arrangements for the arrival and departure of visiting supporters were finalised well in advance of the match, in close coordination with the Paris Police Prefecture, UEFA, and Newcastle United FC itself. This system, compliant with UEFA standards, was meticulously implemented and proceeded smoothly.
“Olympique de Marseille also wishes to remind everyone that it deploys significant human, technical, logistical and financial resources at each match to guarantee opposing fans a quality welcome and optimal security conditions.
“The Club also emphasises that no specific incidents or alerts were reported to it by Newcastle United FC during the evening of the match, nor by their representatives present at the stadium, nor in the hours following the match. Furthermore, the feedback sent to our department by UEFA after the match confirms the quality of the security measures implemented and their effective operational execution.
“Olympique de Marseille reaffirms once again its unwavering commitment to the safe travel of its own supporters and, consequently, its dedication to providing away fans with a suitable and secure environment. Therefore, the Club cannot accept that its responsibility be wrongly called into question.
“Finally, the Club wishes to commend the rigorous and coordinated work of the Police Prefecture, whose actions ensured the smooth running of the event and the safety of all supporters.”
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Eddie Howe comments on the situation
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was asked about the treatment of supporters at Marseille during his Friday morning press conference.
“Very, very sad to hear because I think, from my perspective, the most important thing is for obviously players, staff, everyone that goes to the game, supporters, that they enjoy the experience,” Howe said. “It's a safe experience. They enjoy the game and they're talking about it, the game afterwards, for all the right reasons.