Aston Villa fans were ‘hit with batons’ amid claims of being ‘tasered and refused entry’ ahead of the Europa League game against Lille.
As seen in footage posted to social media overnight, local authorities hit out at some of the travelling fans on Thursday evening.
One Villa supporter said “All this after we had already shown our tickets twice”, and another said “You’ll get nicked” when trying to prevent further confrontation with police and stewards trying to close a metal gate, which prevented a large group of people from using that entrance to Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
12.03.2026, LOSC Lille🇫🇷 – Aston Villa🏴, Troubles with Aston Villa and security, click here for more: https://t.co/fkFMnAI1Hb
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🔗 https://t.co/FXnrFRp1rX pic.twitter.com/jIBOURndCf— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) March 12, 2026
Fans being tasered and refused entry #AVFC pic.twitter.com/NXxtxQR9WD
— Aston Villa Updates (@avfcbreaking) March 12, 2026
Other villa fans in the video can be heard saying: “Look at that, it’s an absolute disgrace. Let them in!
“They’re letting no one in! They’re not letting you in. They’re closing the door! Wow. Outrageous conduct.
“Wow. I’ve got a video. Are you going to video me? I’ve got him on video.
“Let us in! Let us in! Let us in! Let them in please. Please let them in.”
#avfc Villa fans on the third ticket check ….just disgusting behaviour from the French stewards and police #fa @talkSPORT pic.twitter.com/LEZ3sb62E9
— bikes (@bikesswest) March 12, 2026
@stevejones88: The away section is split into 2 and they weren’t letting people into the wrong area but you couldn’t really go back, they didn’t tell you until your were at that gate. People started pushing to get through
@northstandswain: Well yet again. Villa fans assaulted by the French police. Football fans get treated like shit all over Europe but today was an absolute disgrace. Fans getting gassed for no reason at all. Hopefully it gets investigated #avfc
@northstandswain: Fuck all mate from what I saw. One of my best mates got tear gassed for no reason at all
@EmJanie (Replying to @AVFCSupport): “Corrected it for you. 🚨 Lille stewards and French police are likely to overeat and act like cunts in the away supporters’ section. 🦁 AVFC Fan Support staff will not be able to do F all.
@KCzhyro: Sorry for yall supporters treatment in france is a shame
@cfc_ghg22: Tried to do that with us last night. French police absolutely shocking
@Langas_1: French police at it again. SHOCK
@TheDiddyman1: The way England club fans are treated in these European games is appalling. Extortionate flights/hotels, problems getting into stadiums, the worst away ends, kept in for an hour afterwards
@TheVillaPolls: What caused all this to kick off? #AVFC
@avbiIly: Scumbags. Hope everyone is safe and well.
Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of game for Aston Villa, with Amadou Onana also seeing a curled shot come back off the woodwork, with Watkins also unable to score when one-on-one against Ozer, Buendia also sent a volley wide from 12 yards.
Winners of tie to face Bologna or Roma in quarter-finals
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports: “We played a very serious match, [were] organised, respecting the competition and we know how difficult this match is in Europe playing in other countries with the atmosphere they have here.
“For them to play an English team you can feel it a little bit – a huge motivation for the opponent.
“We have our experience here two years ago. We prepared and planned this match to have all those circumstances under our control. We started the match trying to test how they were tactically and we were more or less getting better. The first half was equal but I think we dominate more with the positioning.
“Second half we started very good, scoring the goal and having other chances to score. We were feel comfortable and confident. We played always with being organised as the first demand.”
On Ollie Watkins: “He is working and being consistent with his task. Then of course he’s scoring but we need more numbers with the other players. The most important thing is how we played a serious match, always expecting everything and with our gameplan to play strongly for 90 minutes.”
Aston Villa captain John McGinn, speaking to TNT Sports: “It was a good first leg. We know how these games change over two legs. We could have scored one or two more goals but they could have had one or two themselves. A better performance but still a lot to do.
“It felt nice. It’s been six weeks and it was great to be back out there helping the team. The more bodies we can get back the better.
“We needed a reset. The past month has not been great. We can’t dwell on it. We can learn from it but what we need to do is build and tonight is a building block. We know we can do a lot better but it is a good result.
“It was good to see Ollie to get on the score sheet. He will probably be disappointed with the one on one. We showed signs of getting back to our best but there’s still a long way to go.”
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