Tottenham Hotspur have expressed “great concern” at reports from their supporters about violent treatment at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, after footage emerged appearing to show Barcelona security personnel beating them with batons.
One 45-second clip posted on Twitter shows stewards striking out at fans during Tuesday’s Champions League meeting between the two teams, seemingly without provocation, as one supporter yells: “You can’t do that!”
I just need to address this issue which happened last night during the game. Absolutely disgusting behavior by Barcelona stewards hitting us with batons for no reason! @SpursOfficial please send this to @UEFA @ChampionsLeague its disgusting. RT to find these scumbags! #THFC #COYS pic.twitter.com/JYk5N3u7fw
— Alex (@LxcasMoura) December 12, 2018
A Spurs spokesman said: “We have been made aware of a number of issues our fans faced in gaining access to the stadium. The reports we have received from our supporters are obviously of great concern to us and we shall be contacting the relevant authorities.”
The fan who posted the video wrote: “I just need to address this issue which happened last night during the game. Absolutely disgusting behavior by Barcelona stewards hitting us with batons for no reason! @SpursOfficial please send this to @UEFA @ChampionsLeague its disgusting. RT to find these scumbags!”
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust have “requested an urgent debrief with the club” and invited fans to submit photos or accounts of the events.
One replied with more video footage of a beating with a baton, while others posted photos of large bruises.
— Goose (@huss_THFC) December 12, 2018
It is not the first time Barcelona stewards have been accused of being heavy-handed with fans of an English team.
Back in April, Chelsea submitted a formal complaint to UEFA regarding the treatment of their travelling supporters by stewards and Spanish police before and after the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie against Barcelona.