Tottenham have expressed their concerns to Borussia Dortmund about the policing that left “panicking” away fans fearing for their safety before last night’s Europa League tie in Germany.

There were unconfirmed reports of 17 supporters suffering injuries and one who had to be removed on a stretcher by medics. Fans’ accounts suggested any attempts to check tickets or search those entering the ground were simply abandoned.

Tottenham have spoken to Dortmund officials to make clear their unhappiness at the stewarding and police tactics, which included the use of pepper spray.

Dortmund have refused to comment but the city’s police force has promised to launch an investigation into the conduct of its officers.

One eyewitness spoke of fights between stewards and supporters as they sought to enter the Nordtribune (North Stand), which housed the 3,500 Tottenham fans before and after kick-off.

Anthony Lombardi, 34, of Colindale, told Standard Sport: “People dropped to the floor and were stood on, panic set in and just getting into the stadium safely became the most important thing. I was never searched on entering the ground, nor did I have my ticket scanned. I was very lucky. It could have gone totally wrong. There was a serious breakdown somewhere.

“There were some punches thrown by Spurs fans, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of stewards throw punches back, kick random people and generally swing at any fan who came near them.”

John Wenham, 26, of Enfield, said: “I arrived at the ground at 6.15pm local time (45 minutes before kick-off) and there were no directions at all towards the away end. There was a completely disorganised crush outside the away end and nobody told us why.”



In Pictures: Dortmund vs Tottenham 11 show all In Pictures: Dortmund vs Tottenham 1/11 Magnificent Dortmund, and their fans, put on a spectacular display. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 2/11 Frustrated Harry Kane reacts after the final whistle blows. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 3/11 Journey's end? The Tottenham players applaud the travelling fans after suffering a heavy defeat in Dortmund. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 4/11 Brutal Marco Reus thunders home his first goal on the game. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 5/11 On the cards Aubameyang wheels away after putting his side ahead. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 6/11 Clinical Aubameyang heads Dortmund in front. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 7/11 Close Aubameyang lets rip. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 8/11 Focussed Tom Carroll tries to win possession from Poland international Piszczek. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 9/11 Lost Nacer Chadli failed to deliver in Dortmund. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 10/11 Fierce Ben Davies slides in on Mkhitaryan. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 11/11 Pressure is on Tottenham's hopes of progressing are all but over after their defeat in Germany. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 1/11 Magnificent Dortmund, and their fans, put on a spectacular display. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 2/11 Frustrated Harry Kane reacts after the final whistle blows. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 3/11 Journey's end? The Tottenham players applaud the travelling fans after suffering a heavy defeat in Dortmund. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 4/11 Brutal Marco Reus thunders home his first goal on the game. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 5/11 On the cards Aubameyang wheels away after putting his side ahead. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 6/11 Clinical Aubameyang heads Dortmund in front. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 7/11 Close Aubameyang lets rip. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 8/11 Focussed Tom Carroll tries to win possession from Poland international Piszczek. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 9/11 Lost Nacer Chadli failed to deliver in Dortmund. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 10/11 Fierce Ben Davies slides in on Mkhitaryan. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images 11/11 Pressure is on Tottenham's hopes of progressing are all but over after their defeat in Germany. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images

Emma Storey, 34, from Battersea, said: “The German police and stewards penned us in outside the stadium and shut the gates for us to get into the stadium. There was a massive crush for the best part of half an hour. The Dortmund fans caught up with us and were begging police to open the gates but they wouldn’t. It was genuinely terrifying — I was off my feet and unable to move any arms. People further ahead of me got pepper sprayed to keep them back. I have never been so terrified.”

A Tottenham spokesman said: “The misdirection of our fans by police along with the closing of turnstiles created a potentially dangerous situation. The use of pepper sprays was completely unnecessary and unacceptable. We arranged for our fans to meet with officials of Borussia Dortmund immediately after the game. We have also spoken to officials at the club and they have taken on board our concerns.”



Other Spurs fans said they were held outside the ground for nearly an hour, meaning they did not reach their seats until about 30 minutes after the game started.

Some Dortmund supporters were also trying to walk into the ground at the same entrance.

One Spurs fan wrote on Twitter: “In 21 years I’ve never been so frightened as I was outside the ground tonight. Horrific crush.”

Dortmund police chief Edzard Freyhoff told Standard Sport today there would be an investigation into the way his officers dealt with the chaos.



Yet he said the problems were caused partly by the late arrival of what he estimated were about 1,000 fans. Mr Freyhoff said supporters had been given adequate warning to arrive early at the ground so they could enter it without problems.

Mr Freyhoff, the match commander, told Standard Sport: “The police of Dortmund will investigate the facts of what happened before kick-off. The whole situation was not good.

“We will talk about whether it was a good reaction or whether it could have been better.

“The supporters of Tottenham were asked to arrive early, via Facebook, Twitter and social media, because it is a very big stadium and it takes a long time to process and search about 65,000 fans.



“But some arrived only 15 minutes before kick-off — about 1,000 wanting to get into the stadium from that time. That is nearly impossible as everyone has to be searched by the stewards.

“By kick-off, about 800-900 fans were still in front of the gates and started a build-up of pressure to come into the stadium.

“The stewards decided to close the doors for about five to 10 minutes before opening them again. But there was another big pressure from supporters and we could see on our camera that about 80-100 Tottenham fans had entered the stadium without being searched.

“So the stewards decided to close the doors again. This was also when the police tried to reduce the pressure in front of the doors. They used pepper spray to try to do that.”

After the game, Tottenham officials organised a meeting between counterparts from Dortmund and representatives of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust (THST). Spurs safety officers Sue Tilling and Dean Smith, and Jonathan Waite, head of supporter services, attended the meeting on the concourse.

The THST have asked fans to contact them with their accounts of the problems they had entering the ground. Supporters should email info@thstofficial.com

Spurs lost the last-16 tie 3-0. The second leg is at White Hart Lane on Thursday.

