Big Sam hits out at ‘police brutality’
10:46am Saturday 23rd February 2008
FORMER Bolton Wanderers' manager Sam Allardyce yesterday hit out at the treatment of Whites' fans in Madrid.
Big Sam said he had family friends at the game who were injured, including one who had been beaten by police and needed two brain scans.
He said: "The fans were brutally attacked by the law for no reason.
"A lot of my relatives and friends went out to watch the game and some have had to be treated in hospital. I know they are not troublemakers.
"One of them has had to have two brain scans."
"Many fans spent a lot of time and money following the team and didn't even get to see the game."
He now wants the club and the Football Association to take a stand against the behaviour.
Allardyce, who has returned to his home in Bolton after leaving Newcastle United, said it was disappointing the violence had detracted from the Wanderers' performance.
"It was a great performance and a great result. I hope they can repeat it in Lisbon," he said.
But he is now worried the impact the violence will have on fans attending future games in Europe.
"The violence will be a big consideration to fans thinking about going to the Lisbon game.
"Their families at home will worry about them when they go to watch the club abroad," he said.
"The fans are really important to the players when they play abroad.
"The fans that came to Marseilles and Portugal made a real difference," he added.