ASTON VILLA fans scrapped with French police before their Europa League win over Lille.
Viral footage posted to social media by Aston Villa Updates appears to show local authorities swinging batons at a crowd of travelling fans on Thursday evening.
One Villa supporter could be heard shouting “No” and another said “You’ll get nicked” while trying to stop further confrontation.
Police and stewards are then seen frantically pulling a metal gate closed, preventing a large group of people from using that entrance to Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
There was even a claim, from the individual who posted the clip, that some fans were tasered.
Lille, Aston Villa and the Police Nationale have all been approached by SunSport for comment.
Dozens of angry fans responded to the footage, with one writing: “French police absolutely shocking.”
Another posted: “And all this after we had already shown our tickets twice.”
A third commented: “Hope all the Villa fans are OK.”
And a fourth chimed in with: “How can this be allowed?”
The away end was eventually packed with Villa supporters who witnessed an important 1-0 win.
Ollie Watkins‘ unusual headed finish has given Villa a slender lead to protect in next week’s second leg in Birmingham.
Villa are on the slide in the Premier League but victory over Lille would move them into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Aston Villa’s are not the first set of supporters to complain about their treatment at the hands of the French police.
Liverpool fans were tear-gassed before the 2022 Champions League final in Paris, with a series of Liverpool legends then left angry at unsubstantiated French Government claims that supporters attempted to enter with fake tickets.
