Man Utd fans teargassed by French police after Lyon game with toilets and concourse locked off

Man Utd fans were teargassed by French police after the game against Lyon, with the toilets and the concourse being locked off.

After the Europa League match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, some United fans reported being teargassed by French police during a post-match holdback at the Groupama Stadium.

Supporters claimed they were told they’d have access to facilities during an hour-long holdback, but toilets and the concourse were locked off.

When fans attempted to access restrooms, police allegedly used pepper spray or teargas behind riot shields, leading to chaotic scenes where fans were rubbing their eyes and booing.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust has called for fans to submit footage to investigate the incident, criticising the heavy-handed tactics.

This wasn’t isolated—fans also faced logistical issues like a metro system failure and being bussed from a distant collection point before the game.

United are looking into the matter, but no official police statement has been widely reported.

Social media posts from fans echo frustration, pointing to a pattern of similar treatment at French stadiums.

On the flip side, some argue police measures were for crowd control, given the high-stakes nature of European matches, but locking off basic amenities seems excessive and poorly communicated.

#MUFC Tear gas @ManUtd United fans. Unbelievable. 2025 and that is happening at a football game. @ISLO_MUST pic.twitter.com/Cko8w3Chak

— Jason White (@jaydeblanc) April 10, 2025

Frustrating end to United’s game in Lyon.

Fans warned of an hour’s holdback, but with full access to facilities.

French police have locked off the toilets and concourse are now pepper spraying behind riot shields.

Thanks for the hospitality 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/cQ40npEfLT

— Harry Robinson (@HarryRobinson64) April 10, 2025

A Man Utd fan at the game said, per the Mirror: “This is completely unacceptable. Time and time again, we are subjected to substandard treatment while away in Europe. It has to end. Today has been nothing short of chaotic, with issues surrounding the shuttles, the wristbands, and now this.”

Duncan Drasdo tweeted: “90% of the time on Euro aways if there is aggro it’s with the police rather than local fans. Most countries can do this right but there are almost always problems with the French police. All too often they create the aggro they are supposed to be preventing.”

Very loud here in Lyon. 3,000 MUFC fans on the top tier. pic.twitter.com/RCjDs8SY8x

— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) April 10, 2025

Away fans still held in the ground (in stands and concourse) at midnight. Over an hour after the final whistle pic.twitter.com/B0TbUrC0B5

— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) April 10, 2025

Onana given silent treatment by Amorim and Man Utd dressing room after TWO blunders in Lyon

Twitter users reacted with Man Utd fans teargassed by French police after the Lyon game with toilets and concourse locked off…

@Jamiek9035: Ffs, disgraceful, I didn’t see in the video any kids or children, but if there was, I hope they are okay and everyone got out safe.

@lynch_aka: Known this lad for years goes everywhere with United never in any mither ,just there for the football. How do French police get away with it time and time again ?

@dipsMUFC: This is completely unacceptable. Time and time again, we are subjected to substandard treatment while away in Europe. It has to end. Today has been nothing short of chaotic, with issues surrounding the shuttles, the wristbands, and now this #MUFC

@ncarowland: English football fans being treated awfully abroad is it? Imagine my shock

@CockneyRed99: I cannot for the life of me understand how foreign police continually get away with treating English fans like this

@Mikec81united: @FansEurope this is a disgrace by the French authorities!!! This needs to stop now. Fans getting gassed in the ground. If the French authorities can’t host a game the team must be kicked out. Not good enough

@sircybermaniac: I remember getting hit with tear gas during military training. The whole face was a total mess. Snot and tears everywhere. Sat on your skin for ages afterwards, rinsing with water made it worse. This must have been pretty diluted. Still very scummy, especially for kids and all.

@JontyJonty500: That entire day was a fucking disgrace.

@uggy7: Shambles. I’ve never liked the French and this is just another reason. The French police are absolute arseholes

@Zaka_No_7: It always seems to be the French Police. They’re incapable of handling football matches. Every year something like this happens. Pathetic.

@LouisejayneWal1: @ManUtd @EuropaLeague, it’s not acceptable. Will there be complaints? Will it be looked into or, like everything else will it be twisted to fit the narrative that English fans are thugs and brushed under the carpet like all the other times it happens to English fans not just mufc

@MufcHobo: It’s not the first time the French police have done it it won’t be the last remember it happened to United in lens when we played Lille .

@Jim_McDonald1: Between fans getting battered by stewards at home games & now this, honestly it’s a wonder why everyone bothers these days. Treated like shit week after week while paying fortunes for the privilege #mufc @ManUtd