PROOF STEWARD LOCKED GATE
By James Fletcher
THESE terrifying images will form part of Manchester United's damning dossier of evidence of their fans' Champions League horror.
United have given us exclusive access to their secret files, which feature disturbing mobile phone pictures and video footage plus eyewitness accounts from more than 400 fans.
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United will hand UEFA their evidence of the chain of events which led to the crush during Tuesday's 1-0 win over Lille in Lens.
And United insist:
Security gates were CHAINED shut by stewards to stop supporters escaping the crush.
Fans trying to flee the chaos were SPRAYED with tear gas. Other fans were ATTACKED by riot police with dogs.
Panic-stricken women and children were THROWN back into the over-crowded stand.
The Premiership leaders are also DEMANDING TV footage from French host broadcasters Canal Plus and ITV and have received e-mails from disgusted ARSENAL fans who endured similar problems with French police when they travelled to Lens.
United boss Alex Ferguson's son Mark and captain Gary Neville's dad Neville were caught in the crush.
Fergie said: "Obviously I was concerned, I think everyone would have been, except perhaps the French police.
"It was a real concern but the club are dealing with that now. They have been speaking to our fans and there are plenty of eyewitness reports. Hopefully, we can put the matter to rest and UEFA will deal with it in the right way."
United fan Mark Harrison, 27, passed on his mobile phone video footage to the club.
He said: "My worst memory was seeing a young girl clinging to the 10ft-high fence at the front of the United section.
Terrified
"She couldn't have been more than 15 and was terrified and crying. She wanted to get out.
"What did the police do? They sprayed tear gas in her face. I've never seen anything like it.
"Nobody checked our tickets and that, ultimately, was what caused the problem. After kick-off, loads of fans were trying to get in, some with genuine tickets, some with fakes and others with no tickets at all. The police and stewards panicked and let them in. A crush quickly developed at the front and everybody was just thinking, ‘Let this not be another Hillsborough'.
"It was terrifying. We were pleading with police and stewards to let us out but they just thought we wanted trouble.
"A couple of lads managed to get out over the top. We also managed to open a safety gate.
"But the police beat us back with batons. The tear gas wasn't nice either. Our throats were burning. It was horrendous."
United keeper Edwin van der Sar said: "The tear gas was a big problem. I had blurred vision and a headache."
Some fans are considering legal action and UEFA are due to reveal their findings on March 22. But Lille general manager Xavier Thuilot said: "United are seeking to put all the blame on our club. This is unacceptable and inadmissible. It's clear United fans provoked the problems."
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