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Middlesbrough fans ask police to explain 'heavy handed' treatment

Getty Images Middlesbrough's Marc Bola is tackled by Stoke City's Ben Wilmot during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Middlesbrough at Bet365 Stadium on December 11, 2021 in Stoke on TrentGetty Images
Middlesbrough's match with Stoke City on 11 December ended in a goalless draw

A football ers group has asked police to explain the "totally unacceptable treatment" of its fans.

Boro claims Staffordshire Police used pepper spray on Middlesbrough fans after the match with Stoke City on 11 December.

The group said "innocent fans" had been caught up in "extremely heavy-handed policing".

The force said a number of complaints were being reviewed by its professional standards department.

In a letter to Staffordshire Police's chief constable, Chris Nobile, Boro 's chair Mark Motley said officers should not put the public in "situations that are at best uncomfortable and at worst intimidating".

He continued: "Innocent fans, including families and older people were caught up in the extremely heavy-handed policing outside the stadium, including pepper spraying.

"Many fans missed trains due to being held back after the final whistle without explanation."

'Lessons learnt'

After the Championship match, a number of Boro ers told BBC Tees they were stopped and made to leave in single file and some had been pepper sprayed.

One said he had questioned the response and was told by police they had received intelligence that hooligans were planning violence.

When asked for a response, Staffordshire Police reiterated an earlier statement in which it said it reviewed "tactics and lessons learnt" after each fixture.

A spokesperson repeated that a 15-year-old boy from Stoke-on-Trent and a 34-year-old man from Teesside had been arrested on suspicion of beating an emergency worker.

Boro 's letter says the reasons for ers being held back were not communicated properly and requests an explanation.

It also asks why it appeared pepper spray had been used "in a manner that meant innocent fans were affected".

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