PARIS – Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris was delayed on Saturday amid chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France, as thousands of Liverpool fans stayed trapped outside and police deployed pepper spray and tear gas on fans.
Video footage on social media highlighted large crowds of fans outside the Stade de France during the preparations for the match, with a large number of Liverpool fans unable to enter the stadium, leaving large parts of their empty section less than 30 minutes before the match. to start.
On the other hand, the Real Madrid section was almost full almost an hour before the match.
Police use tear gas on Liverpool fans outside the Stade de France. Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
In a statement, UEFA blamed fans who had bought fake tickets for out-of-stadium events, but did not specify where those fans were from.
“In the run-up to the match, Liverpool’s turnstiles were blocked by thousands of fans who had bought fake tickets that did not work on turnstiles,” the statement read.
“This created an accumulation of fans trying to enter. As a result, the start was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans with genuine tickets as possible to access it.
“As the number outside the stadium continued to increase after the start of the match, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them to leave the stadium.
“UEFA sympathizes with those affected by these events and will urgently review these matters together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation.
Liverpool called for a formal investigation into what the club said were “unacceptable issues” outside the stadium.
“We are very disappointed with the problems entering the stadium and the breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans have faced tonight at the Stade de France,” his statement said.
“This is the best match in European football and fans should not experience the scenes we witnessed tonight.
“We have officially requested a formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable problems.”
Sources told ESPN that fans had been forced to wait outside while police tried to control access to the stadium.
ESPN spoke to fans outside the stadium after the scheduled start time and some showed tickets for the match that should have secured their entry.
A young fan, with tears in her eyes, complained that riot police had sprayed her with pepper spray and ESPN witnessed and filmed a subsequent incident of fan splashes.
As they lined up outside, Liverpool fans were calm and well behaved as they waited to be allowed to enter the stadium.
Liverpool fans trying to get into the stadium for the Champions League final. pic.twitter.com/NLqws9qBrN
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 28, 2022
Police officers with batons and riot shields rushed from door to door to prevent fans’ pockets from being forced into the stadium without showing tickets. A policeman collapsed to the ground and had to be assisted by other officers. Officers repeatedly used tear gas on Liverpool fans.
In a statement, French police said: “Fans tried to enter the stadium. They forced their way through the first filter. The projection at the Stade de France is watertight.
“We have intervened to push back the fans who are trying to force themselves,” they added.
UEFA initially cited the “late arrival of fans at the stadium” for the decision to postpone the start time to 9pm CET. The final was further delayed, with UEFA citing “security reasons” before finally starting at 21:36 CET.
Real Madrid won the final and beat Liverpool 1-0.
Information from Reuters and the Associated Press was used in this report.