Newcastle United says its fans were “indiscriminately assaulted” by French police after the Champions League match against Marseille on Tuesday, raising serious concerns about supporter treatment.

The Premier League club has formally contacted UEFA, Marseille authorities, and French police to address what it described as “unacceptable” behavior. Marseille won the match 2-1 at the Velodrome, and Newcastle supporters faced delays exiting the stadium, being allowed to leave in groups of 500 while police escorted them to the Metro station.

According to the club, once the first group was released, police allegedly used excessive and unnecessary force to prevent the remaining fans from moving. Newcastle said this involved pepper spray, batons, and shields, with many supporters reportedly harmed in the process.

The club stressed that it is cooperating with UK police to collect evidence and has called on both UEFA and Marseille to investigate the incident thoroughly.

“Supporter safety and welfare should always be the top priority, and we strongly condemn the treatment of our fans by police during this event,” Newcastle said in a statement.

The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of traveling fans in European competitions, highlighting tensions that can arise during post-match stadium procedures.