The post-match action was closely watched by the Newcastle managers and senior staff.
The club said supporters “waited patiently and without incident during the stoppage period”.
Supporters affected included season ticket holder Liam Phillips, 42, who vowed never to return to Marseille and “probably never go back to France to watch a game” after what he saw.
Although Phillips was keen to emphasize that the locals were “very friendly”, he said that after the game the police “ran into people indiscriminately” when supporters in front were “being pushed into the police for no fault of their own”.
He said, “Lockdown was at 4pm – and I didn’t get back to my hotel until about 2am – that’s about 10 hours to watch 90 minutes of football.”
“It felt absolutely inhumane and I felt like we were being treated like criminals, when in reality the vast majority, if not everyone, were just there to watch their team.
“There was no aggression. It was all good-natured. We just wanted to watch a football game. There was no need for it.”
Another fan, Newcastle Supporters Club co-founder Darren Currie, said supporters had to stand in urine after toilets flooded during the wait.
Although he highlighted how police escorted his partner out, he said security was “very bad”.
“People don’t like to be in a kettle and it’s a dangerous area,” he said.
“I saw a lot of women and men in tension. They were being taken out. If you are ahead and someone moves forward, I am sure the police will now lathi charge you.
“It was very lucky no one was seriously injured.”
Marseille police say they made “very limited use of tear gas” after the crowd surged, but denied any other use of force.
Police said, “At one point, towards the end of the operation, in the visitors’ section, the crowd grew, requiring the intervention of CRS riot police, one of whom made very limited use of tear gas, causing discomfort to about 20 fans for a few minutes.”
“Apart from this incident, no force was used and the operation went smoothly. No injuries or complaints were reported following this incident.”
Marseille Football Club said that, according to UEFA’s debriefing, the system and planned timings were “strictly adhered to” and that the system for “welcoming” travel support was “defined before the match” in consultation with the police, UEFA and Newcastle.
The French club said access to the concourse would remain open so supporters could “use the toilets or visit the refreshment stands” during this waiting period.
Marseille said the flooding of toilets was caused by an “act of vandalism”, namely “intentionally blocked toilets and damaged flush mechanisms”.
The Football Supporters’ Association said Marseille and local authorities “must drastically improve the ‘welcoming’ given to supporters”.
A spokesperson said, “Newcastle United are credited for standing up against the shocking treatment of their supporters in Marseille.”
UEFA has also been contacted for comment.
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