**Newcastle United head to France to take on Marseille in the Champions League on 25th November, and fans heading over the channel of been issued a huge list of rules to adhere to for their own safety.**
The French port city of Marseille has quite a reputation for being pretty hostile and brimming with crime for tourists at the best of times, but when you add football fans into the mix, things get even more dicey.
There's often trouble reported in and around Marseille during European fixtures, and as such, Newcastle United have issued a lengthy statement that all fans heading to France are urged to read and follow.
The statement lays out safety tips and important travel information that all fans MUST follow during their stay in Marseille for the game.
> [](https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1989002104221151599?s=20)
Fans are urged to read the entire statement to be fully aware of where to go and what to do in Marseille
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> KEY INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY IN MARSEILLESupporters are strongly advised by French Police not to visit the Old Port (Vieux Port) area of Marseille during their stay.For safety measures, supporters are advised not to wear anything that will identify themselves as Newcastle United supporters or congregate in large groups on the evening of Monday 24th November or all day on and Tuesday 25th November.Street crime, including pickpocketing can take place in Marseille. Supporters should be vigilant at all times, take sensible precautions and ensure they have valid travel insurance.Supporters should not hang flags or any items of club colours in the city of Marseille.Anybody without a valid match ticket should not travel to Marseille.MATCHDAY MANDATORY FAN MEETING POINT IN MARSEILLEThe only place supporters can gather is at the mandatory fan meeting point at Place de la Joliette. This requirement has been put in place by local authorities and the police in Marseille.Place de la Joliette - Fans can gather here from 11.00am onwards on Tuesday 25 November. There are a number of bars and restaurants in the vicinity of this area. Supporters will be allowed to drink at Place de la Joliette, whilst a DJ will be present at the meeting point. There will be ample toilets in this location.Mandatory transport to the Stade Velodrome will leave from this location and supporters MUST be in this location for 16.30. There will be no exceptions for any supporters making their way to the stadium.GETTING TO THE STADE VELODROMESupporters MUST travel to the stadium via the mandatory metro service which is policed by the local authorities in Marseille.These metros will depart from the fan meeting point. The first metro will be at 16.30 and it is advised that supporters take the earliest metro possible to get to the stadium safely and in good time.To access the metro, the local authorities will have a queuing system in place to allow ticket holders access to the transport.Olympique Marseille will conduct a first ticket scan at this stage, and this will allow you access to the metro.Newcastle United ticketing staff will also be in this location to support Olympique Marseille. However, the operation is run and conducted by the local authorities.The journey will take around 15 minutes from leaving Joliette station to arriving at the stadium metro. It is then a 5-minute flat walk from the metro station to the stadium.Supporters are allowed to drink alcohol on the metro but this will need to be discarded before arriving at the stadium. There will be no toilets on the metro.
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> There is no cost to this service.
There's more information on the Newcastle United website
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There is much more information on the [official site.](https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/news/important-newcastle-united-supporter-info-for-olympique-marseille-trip)
We're sure this has all been hyped up to the maximum, and it's not actually all that bad, but it's still best to follow the advice just to be sure.
If you're heading to Marseille, please enjoy yourself and come back in one piece.