UK police have announced they will investigate allegations that Greek police in Athens deployed riot shields and tear gas against England supporters ahead of the Nations League match against Greece.
Officers from the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) were present at the game and stated they “actively worked” with local authorities to help “influence a change of tactics.”
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) is asking fans to share their experiences, of the situation that unfolded outside of the Athens Olympic Stadium on Thursday.
Free Lions, the FSA’s fans’ embassy team, said there is “still clearly so much needed” to ensure fans are not put in “unjustifiably dangerous situations”.
In a statement to BBC Sport, the UKFPU said: “A team of officers from the UKFPU were present at the match in Greece and we are aware of the difficulties that some fans experienced when attempting to enter the stadium.
“Officers actively worked with their counterparts to influence a change of tactics and, following the match, an investigation will now take place in partnership with the FA and FSA.”
The Football Association said it is obtaining information to establish what happened.
Approximately 3,500 England supporters traveled to Athens for the sold-out Nations League fixture, but some reported being “pushed” and subjected to “heavy-handed” treatment by local police.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) confirmed that UEFA, European football’s governing body, has been informed of the incident. BBC Sport has reached out to UEFA for a comment.
One fan, Mark, wrote on X, the treatment was “completely unnecessary” but added “unfortunately you come to expect it following England”.
Another user said, local officers were “funnelling hundreds of fans (including children) into a few entrances” then became aggressive when “there was a squeeze”.
“Despite being told how things would operate in advance, to see the exact opposite occur in some cases, and to see the treatment of our fans by local police using shields and tear gas to do something as simple as rearrange a queue, is so incredibly frustrating,” Free Lions wrote on X.
“On a night where we had a great result on the pitch, there is still clearly so much needed to do off it to ensure our supporters aren’t put in unjustifiably dangerous situations.”