Tottenham fan reveals ‘scary’ scenes outside the Nou Camp before Barcelona clash

A Tottenham supporter has described and captured the ‘scary’ and chaotic scenes he witnessed outside the Nou Camp before their clash against Barcelona on Tuesday night. 

Footage emerged on social media of Tottenham fans being struck with batons by Barcelona’s stadium security staff as violent scenes unfolded before and during the Champions League tie.

The Premier League club have already expressed their ‘great concern’ at reports their fans were subjected to heavy-handed treatment and said they would be seeking answers from the relevant authorities.

The supporter says thousands of Tottenham fans were herded down a narrow street like cattle

Metal barricades were put up in front of Tottenham fans to maintain order by security staff

When a gap in the barricade opened, security staff used their batons to manage the flow

Tottenham supporter Calum Geraghty

Calum Geraghty, a 33-year-old marketing director, was among the Tottenham fans at the game and filmed the scenes as he made his way into the stadium down the street being patrolled by security.

‘They held everybody for quite a long time so people were getting p***** off,’ he told Sportsmail.

‘They were obviously trying to control the crowd but they left everybody for so long that when they did open this tiny walkway to get through, people were pushing because we were like sardines.

‘So as people were trying to funnel through they were trying to slow people down but rather than verbally ask people or manage it better, it was literally like the batons were out ready to just whack people as they walked through.

‘That was what caused the anger because it wasn’t as though they were breaking up a fight, it was just like herding cattle.

‘It was quite scary because everybody was really pushing to get through this tiny gap because we wanted to get into the ground and not miss kick off.’ 

Footage emerged on Twitter of Tottenham fans being struck with batons by security staff

Violent scenes unfolded within the stands during the game in the upper tier of the ground

A video uploaded by a Spurs supporter appears to show stadium staff striking fans forcefully

It remains unclear what caused the security to react with such brutal force during the game

Geraghty explained that away fans were offered very little help in navigating their way around the stadium and were led into a ‘funnel’ before thousands had to squeeze through a tiny gap to continue their journey.

He added: ‘We walked all the way around the stadium to where the visiting fans went in. There was one sign saying “Tottenham supporters this way’. There were no signs anywhere else at all and then it took you down a road where they put fences along 90 per cent of the road you’d be able to walk down.

‘They basically created this funnel and sent a few thousand people at the time down this tiny, tiny gap before you walked another few hundred metres towards the stadium.

‘The fence had already been there god knows how long for but they’d used these mini-metal fences to create a barricade so the pavement was the only physical area on this road that you could walk down. So everyone started walking down as though it were a normal road and then everyone had to funnel over to the left to get into this tiny little gap.’

Geraghty also revealed there was ‘no trouble’ in the hours leading up to the game that would have prompted such heavy-handed tactics from security. 

‘There was nothing happening in the city. We were in a square off Las Ramblas and there was loads of bars, thousands of Spurs fans but not many police around or any trouble.

‘Everyone was in good form. At the ground we had to walk around the stadium to get to the away section and everyone was friendly. It was all with good intentions. There was no trouble between the fans at all.’ 

Lucas Moura scored a late equaliser for the Premier League side to seal their progression

The goal ensured Mauricio Pochettino’s side made it through to the round of 16

Spurs said they would be looking to get to the bottom of what went on and UEFA later confirmed it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Barcelona relating to blocked stairways. 

A club spokesman said: ‘We have been made aware of a number of issues our fans faced in gaining access to the stadium.

‘The reports we have received from our supporters are obviously of great concern to us and we shall be contacting the relevant authorities.’

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust has asked to meet with the club and urged fans to submit any more evidence.

In a statement posted on its Twitter feed, it said: ‘We’re aware of significant issues entering the Nou Camp at Gate 21. We’ve requested an urgent debrief with the Club.’