WORRYING reports have emerged of crowd congestion outside Elland Road stadium in Leeds before Newcastle's match on Saturday. 

Dozens of fans who attended the match have voiced their concerns over crowd congestion due to a lack of working turnstiles or a safe queuing system. 

And now both Leeds United Football Club, Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) and West Yorkshire Police have announced they are working together to conduct a review into the issues. 

NUST are also compiling reports and asking fans to submit their experiences via email. 

 

One Newcastle supporter who attended the 0-1 win over Leeds said the crowd congestion meant it was "hard to move" with large groups of fans turned away at the gate due to faulty turnstile barcode scanners. 

They added: "It was packed, tight, but nothing that we hadn't experienced before. But then things seemed to get worse quickly...

"By the time we got close to the turnstiles it was hard to move, you were being guided by the wave of the crowd. It was clear the was a problem with the very few turnstiles that were open (only like 5 for close to 3000 fans). Very few tickets seemed to be registering/working."

The supporter said they made it through the turnstile after initial complication with their ticket not originally working. 

They added: "I was looking back though at my little sister, a metal gate between us and unrest growing, with nobody doing anything to try and help. It was clear the gates weren't working and people were now stuck and on the verge of being in danger."

A response from stewards in the area at the time was branded "a disgrace" with various fans criticising the crowd management from those working. 

"It was scary," they added. "All those people and nowhere to go. Nobody doing anything. I was pleading with several people to help, or to get someone that could. Their responses couldn't have been poorer.

"There was a woman in floods of tears, begging anyone to do something, to help get people inside, away from the danger. After 10 minutes or so (way too long) it seemed that the severity of the situation had finally been realised.

"There were men, women and children, desperate to get out of the situation they were in. It was appalling, and appallingly handled.

"I'm not sure how this situation occurred, but the lack of turnstiles, the lack of human involvement in the entrance process, the response from  @LUFC stewards and @WestYorksPolice was shocking, abysmal, call it what you want. There is no way this should be occurring."

Despite the issues, Newcastle fans were united in their praise for each other in the way they handled the situation. 

A message from NUST posted on social media read: "Can anyone who was involved in the crush outside the turnstiles today please contact us: Either via DM or email thomas.concannon@nufctrust.co.uk with their version of events please?"

A statement from Leeds United read: "The club acknowledges the complaints raised by some Newcastle United supporters regarding issues experienced entering Elland Road on Saturday.

"Leeds United will now work with the Newcastle Supporters Trust, West Yorkshire Police and our own safety team to review the issues raised and ensure we continue to provide a safe environment for everyone attending our stadium. We will not make any further comment until a review is complete."

West Yorkshire Police added: "We are aware of issues at the Leeds United v Newcastle United game at Elland Road on Saturday that resulted in congestion at the entrance points for away fans.

"We are currently liaising with the club to review the circumstances."

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