Simon Jordan has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the behaviour of French police toward Newcastle United supporters on Tuesday night, and his comments have sparked even more frustration among fans.
The incident took place after Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Marseille in the Champions League, a night that should have ended with disappointment on the pitch but not distress in the stands.
Instead, many fans were left shocked after being met with batons, pepper spray, and an unexpectedly long delay before being allowed to leave the stadium.
Before the match, Newcastle United made sure supporters were well informed about potential risks in the area and the safety procedures that would be in place. Supporters knew they would be held back after full-time, as is often the case in European away fixtures.
However, the estimated one-hour delay turned into something much longer, with some fans reporting they waited close to two hours before they were finally allowed out.
The frustration and confusion only grew as riot police pushed supporters back, used pepper spray, and kept them penned into one section of the stadium with minimal communication.
The situation was discussed the following day on talkSPORT, where Jim White and Simon Jordan invited fans to share their experiences. While many supporters described feeling trapped, ignored and physically mistreated, Simon Jordan chose to take a very different stance. Instead of questioning the police handling, he seemed eager to shift blame onto the fans themselves.
Jordan insisted that French authorities were within their rights to take a strict approach, repeatedly highlighting what he called the “zero tolerance” attitude of police in France and Spain.
According to him, supporters should understand that these countries operate differently and that behaviour tolerated in the UK would not be accepted abroad. He suggested that fans should simply expect firm intervention if there is any sign of what the police consider “disobedience”.
His comments, unsurprisingly, did not sit well with Newcastle fans who were present at the match. From eyewitness accounts, the tension did not rise because of violent or abusive behaviour.
Instead, the issue stemmed from overcrowding, panic, and the natural reaction of supporters who were being physically pushed and crushed near the front of the penned-in section.
Many were only trying to communicate that they were uncomfortable or struggling to breathe, but the language barrier made things even more difficult. Rather than offering clarity or measured control, police responded with force that many felt was unnecessary and excessive.
Supporters accept that every country has its own way of policing football matches, and most fans are used to stricter enforcement abroad. But stricter does not need to mean reckless.
The majority of Newcastle fans in Marseille were simply trying to leave the stadium peacefully after a Champions League night they had been looking forward to for months. Using pepper spray and batons on crowds that were largely calm is not something anyone should be defending. Fans expect firmness when needed, not aggression when it isn’t.
Even though a tiny number of supporters in any fanbase can behave poorly, that does not justify punishing thousands who were doing nothing wrong. Videos have circulated showing a few isolated individuals acting stupidly, and nobody is defending that. If the French police want to discipline those people, they are entitled to.
But treating the entire away section as a threat is unfair and dangerous. The overwhelming majority by all accounts around 99% were simply passionate supporters who travelled to enjoy a football match.
Newcastle United’s official statement reflects the seriousness of the situation, and the club is right to demand answers. Supporters deserve respect, communication and safety wherever they travel.
Tuesday night’s scenes felt like the opposite. While Simon Jordan may think the police acted within reason, the experiences of the fans who were actually there tell a very different story one of fear, frustration and unnecessary force.
