'Started attacking us' - Innocent Chelsea fans tear-gassed and attacked in Lille
Witness accounts describes how innocents have been hurt in France
Chelsea are currently out in France for their Champions League match against Lille.
Unfortunately we have been sent some first hand witness accounts of some innocent Chelsea fans being caught up in Police retaliation to what seems like it was some French football fans intermingling with some Chelsea fans.
“From what we saw there was 3/4 Lille fans giving some verbal and we starting chanting back and then within seconds got hit with Gas,” one Chelsea fan told me.
“I think it started with the blue smoke bomb but then some people started throwing glass beer bottles at each other so the police intervened.” another Blues fan said.
But apparently it seems like there was some PSG fans there as well for some reason antagonising things, according to one witness account.
“What happened was there was a group of about 5 PSG fans (god knows why they was there) and they started kicking off causing a reaction from a few Chelsea fans,” said another Chelsea fan. “Next thing the French Police come steaming in throwing tear gas at people that had nothing to do with it instead of leading the small group of PSG fans away, My eyes were stinging for a good 10 minutes. Wasn’t nice at all and completely uncalled for.”
Another fan explains how innocent women and children were involved and being hurt in the situation as well, people that had nothing at all to do with it.
“We were in a bar, enjoying ourselves in Lille, singing, drinking and having a good time, when the French police came abruptly and tear gassed the entire outside section of the pub, totally unprovoked,” another Chelsea fan told me. “There were women and children affected, as well as ordinary Chelsea fans who were solely here for a good time, at no point prior was there any hostility involved, totally unprovoked.”
Another describes the situation further…
“Lille fans rocked over, the french police had been there all day just watching obviously waiting for it to kick off. A couple Chelsea and Lille started posturing, but nothing massive.
“I saw my mate at the front of the crowd and didn’t want him to get into trouble so I went to pull him out. I reiterate, it was friendly jibing, but it might’ve gotten worse. I grabbed his shoulder to drag him out, and one of the first tear gas is thrown into my cheek, and I run away immediately into the shop nearby with a group of my friends. Then they chuck another into this chip shop, separate from the pub. I bury my head under a table and into my hands to avoid any exacerbation of the already excruciating pain in my eyes, I’m also covering other people’s eyes, also writhing in pain. The door on the shop is closed so the gas permeates, somebody opens it once it’s cleared. We’re all totally horrified, and there are innocents haunted.”
It sounds like a scuffle provoked it all with rival fans going across to Chelsea fans, but to the point where even passer-by’s were being hurt by what had happened. Not just that, but children as well and peaceful fans doing nothing wrong.
Horrific for those involved who did nothing at all wrong, like these few Chelsea fans here below who have shared their accounts and images on Twitter this evening..
I’ve now been sent at least 50 witness statements confirming that the attack from French Police was unjust and many innocent people got hurt because of it.
Here are a few more…
“From what I saw yesterday vast majority of fans were behaving whilst very vocal as usual outside the 3 brasseurs, another fan told me.
“Riot police presence was particularly noticeable around the station, ended up going to the ground over 2 hours early after the tear gas, the actual incident I missed. Could see large groups of riot police following all Chelsea after that, reminds me of PSG outside the ground. For those singing Romans name - I’d put it at sub 2% at most inside the ground and the vast majority sang other songs to drown out the Roman songs.
Our friend Scott Hayter, who helped us with an excellent article last week, was involved and got hurt in it all as well, simply as an innocent bystander.
“I got caught in the tear gassing,” A fan that knows Scott told us.
“We were outside the 3 Brasseurs as we had been all day. There seemed an atmosphere with the riot cops then suddenly it all kicked off. Don’t know what caused it but I didn’t see anything untoward. We ran into the bar to get water. The second wave a guy I know Scott Hayter asked what it was all about and got attacked by 5 or so baton wielding police and gassed. We got him to a restaurant to wash his eyes out. Others may know more what caused it all but it was definitely over the top.”
“Haven’t got any videos but I was destroyed with the tear gas like many,” said yet another fan.
“Just standing singing outside the pub and got drilled with the gas for no reason whatsoever. Couldn’t see straight for about 10 mins. Ridiculous carry on, all for singing songs about our club.”
Loads of innocent fans got hurt and injured, fans who weren’t involved.
“Basically, bought my first pint, heard some trouble going on, patently Chelsea fans and PSG/Lille fans had a dispute,” another fan told me.
“Next thing I know my breathing goes (as an asthmatic, I hear somebody say we’ve been tear gassed and the breading makes sense. Then my eyes start to sting and I can’t see anything, start to tear up and and that moment I understand thee meaning of tear gas!
Here’s a few more…
Simon Phillips