Brighton fans kept in Marseille stadium for hours

Brighton fans were made aware prior to the Olympique de Marseille match that they would be held back for 45 minutes after full time for safety reasons last night.

Supporters were “jovial” after watching Brighton snatch a late equaliser through Joao Pedro to secure their first Europa League point.

But any post-match joy soon turned to frustration as people were left waiting inside the concourses of the Stade Velodrome in hot temperatures with “no water” for around two hours.

Fans were in good spirits soon after the final whistle (Image: Supplied)

Fans said people collapsed in the concourse due to dehydration.

Richard Evershed, from Horsham, said: “As per the correspondence we were led to believe we would be kept in the ground for 45 minutes and the refreshments would be open.

“We clapped the players and came down. None of the refreshments were there. The crowd were jovial at first. It was fine for 45 minutes or so. We were moved down into the stairwell or an area with a very low ceiling.

“It started to get a bit hot, we had been there for one and a half hours. No one knew what was going on. We were packed in. The police were fine but looked aggressive with their riot shields and batons.

“As time went on people got more and more heated. Then we were moved to a larger area. We had been there for about two hours. It was getting hotter and hotter, you could not go to the toilet or get a drink.

“Some people got really dehydrated and needed medical attention.”

Crowds in the Stade Velodrome concourses (Image: Supplied)

Richard said they got back to their accommodation by 12.15am, more than three and a half hours after the final whistle at 8.40pm.

One fan said the toilets were open where they were and water was available about 30 minutes after full time.

Josh Beckett, from Burgess Hill, said: “We were held in the top of the stands concourse for 45 minutes after the final whistle before being funnelled down the stairs onto coaches.

"We then sat on the coach for easily half an hour before any of them moved.

“We were fortunate enough to get on one and got escorted back to Place de la Joliette.

“Some people got held even longer for an hour minimum as they ran out of buses and one lady collapsed with dehydration.”

Dozens more fans expressed their frustration at the delays on social media.

It comes after some trouble on the streets of Marseille on Wednesday night. 

PC Darren Balkham, Sussex Police’s dedicated football officer, said they were trying to get specific answers from French police as to why the delay was “so long”.

PC Balkham tweeted: “I know there were issues with buses to and from the stadium and tried my best to communicate to powers that be but there are limitations.

“Feel I need to apologise as feel I have let you down but hopefully the result on the pitch has lightened this. I will feed back to UEFA.”

Sussex Police said it would not be commenting.

Olympique de Marseille, French police and UEFA were approached for comment.