Goal.com

Michael Slater attended the champions' clash against Real Madrid in September as a supporter and was filmed on amateur footage being beaten to the ground by the authorities

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart

The chairman of Charlton Athletic is complaining to Uefa after he was brutally attacked by Spanish police ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Real Madrid last month, Goal.com can reveal.

Michael Slater, a lifelong City fan, has been identified as the man shown on amateur footage being knocked unconscious in an unprovoked attack that left him with minor head injuries and severe bruising.

The incident, which took place close to the Bernabeu before the Champions League match last month, lasted for several minutes as baton-wielding police charged at City supporters.

Slater has spoken to the head of security at the Football Association and will provide a formal statement so the matter can be pursued with Uefa in the interests of fans’ safety when travelling abroad.

“I can confirm that I was assaulted by at least one police officer in Spain without any provocation at all,” Slater told Goal.com. “I have been in contact with the FA and I am expecting them to take the matter up formally with Uefa.”

The fact that a football administrator was on the receiving end of an attack from the Spanish police would appear to support claims from City supporters that the violence was unprovoked and indiscriminate.

Slater, a retired solicitor who was appointed Charlton chairman in December 2010, is keen to take a stand and is a credible witness to the heavy-handed actions of the Spanish police.

City took around 4,000 supporters to the Spanish capital for the 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on September 18.

Meanwhile, City are on high alert ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Dortmund after discovering that several of the German club’s supporters bought tickets for the match in the home section of the Etihad Stadium.

Dortmund fans signed up for City memberships to buy tickets which have now been revoked after City grew suspicious, with full refunds and cancellation fees provided.

Around 3,500 Dortmund supporters are, however, expected to travel to Manchester for the match, despite the German champions only being provided an allocation of 2,700 seats, with the club putting extra security precautions in place.

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