FOOTBALL fans from the North-East should receive better treatment on future trips following their team on the Continent.

It follows complaints by some of Newcastle’s ‘Toon Army’, who claimed they were greeted by “intimidating and bullying” tactics by Belgian police while attending United’s recent Europa League match against Club Brugge.

Police in the West Flanders town threatened to arrest ticketless United fans in the vicinity of the ground on match-day and confiscate alcohol on arrival at Belgian border control.

North-East Euro-MP Martin Callanan said the European Commission (EC) has clarified that foreign police forces have no right to make arrests or confiscate goods arbitrarily.

Replying to his protests, the EC confirmed: “Territorial restrictions must not discriminate on the grounds of nationality.”

Mr Callanan said: “The arbitrary arrest without cause of Newcastle United supporters, or indeed anyone from the UK, simply exercising their right of free movement within the EU, and the confiscation of goods at the border, are totally unacceptable.

“I have received many letters and emails from Newcastle fans worried about aggressive police tactics at European away games.

“They can now be assured that the law supports them, and I will be keeping a very close eye on this to make sure it stays that way.”

Following the Club Brugge game, one Newcastle fan wrote to Mr Callanan complaining that the Belgian police were “aggressive and unfriendly”.

The supporter stated that he and fellow football fans were ordered from a public bus on their way to the match and were made to walk through a dark housing estate alone, more than a mile from the stadium, before being encountered by opposing fans.

United, who have progressed from the group stage of the Europa League, will find out their next opponents in the competition when the draw is made for the latter rounds, on Thursday next week.