Newcastle United head to Marseille next month and the Magpies have reacted to recent bans for Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv
Stade Velodrome, home of Marseille
Stade Velodrome, home of Marseille(Image: Getty Images)
View Image
Newcastle United chiefs have addressed fears that the Toon Army could be banned from their Champions League away fixture in Marseille.
French authorities banned Ajax from travelling to the Velodrome last month and West Midlands Police have done likewise with Maccabi Tel Aviv ahead of their clash at Aston Villa, prompting safety factors as the reason why there will be empty seats at Villa Park in the away end.
The clash takes place on November 25 with supporters given strict instructions to follow ahead of their journey to France.
A Newcastle statement told fans: "We have been made aware of a number of safety measures that will be put in place for our visit to Marseille.
"We wanted to share this initial information at the first possible opportunity to help supporters understand the measures in place and to plan their trip to Marseille.
"Please note, this information below may be subject to change and we will provide more detailed information in the build-up to the fixture and our visit to Olympique Marseille."
Having banned Ajax supporters from travelling last month the French authorities have made no such call on Newcastle at this point.
But travel arrangements have been put in place with the club saying this weekend: "Newcastle United supporters travelling to Marseille for matchday have been allocated a designated meeting point at Place de la Joliette. From this location, mandatory Metro travel will be required via Joliette Station to reach the stadium.
"No exemptions will be granted for supporters, except for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users will be contacted directly by Newcastle United following their ticket purchase to discuss suitable alternative arrangements.
"An official matchday ticket must be produced to gain access to the Metro to the stadium. These measures are imposed and delivered by the relevant local authorities in Marseille for supporter safety and security."
Fans will also face an escort to the ground. United said: "Supporters will be escorted from the Metro station to the stadium on foot, a short five-minute walk. The Stade Velodrome will have concessions available. Newcastle United have requested the sale of alcohol for this fixture in the away section.
"Supporters will be held inside the stadium for a minimum of 40 minutes after the match. During this time, concession stalls and toilets will remain open. Supporters will then be escorted back to the Metro station and taken via Metro to the original meeting point at Place de la Joliette. Please note that this return journey may take significant time."
Newcastle United's Adidas SPZL F.C Collection
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.