Newcastle Fans Held Under Armed Guard

By Matthew Jones
August 14 2003

Newcastle United fans were greeted by armed guards last night when they arrived in Belgrade for Newcastle's Champions League Qualifier. They were held for atleast six hours, before the Foreign Office reached a compromise.

More than 100 Newcastle United fans were last night held under armed guard in a hotel in the Serbian capital of Belgrade.

The supporters had travelled to see The Magpies' take on Partizan Belgrade in a Champion's League qualifier, but when they arrived at the totel they were greeted by guns.

The travelling fans had each paid £355 for a place with Newcastle-based Toon Travel, which organises travel and accommodation at away games.

Armed guards told them to stay inside "for their own good".

The Foreign Office said a compromise was reached after six hours, which allowed the United fans to head to the British Ambassador's residence in Belgrade, before being allowed to go to the match.

The deputy mayor of Belgrade, Rebecca Borjevik, still insisted that the fans were only detained for their own protection.

Keith Barrett, who runs Toon Travel, said: "We got off the plane, came to our hotel and got changed. When we got downstairs we saw 50 or 60 Serbian policemen with guns and batons waiting for us.

"We were told that we would have to stay inside the hotel for our own safety.

"It's an utter farce, because 100 yards away in a square outside the hotel we could see other Newcastle fans happily drinking with Belgrade supporters.

"I have no explanation as to why we have been picked on."

The fans, who are due back in Newcastle on Monday afternoon, were then escorted to the game and then back to the hotel afterwards.

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