The rowdy events that marred the build-up to the Champions League final in Paris have been blamed on Liverpool fans who obtained bogus tickets, according to UEFA.Thousands of Liverpool fans were barred from entering the stadium, causing dangerous bottlenecks and potential crushes. Kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes.
To avoid the remote prospect of supporters rushing the gates in order to ensure they made it into the ground ahead of the scheduled start, police deployed pepper spray on ladies and young children without provocation.'This generated a build-up of supporters wanting to get in,' according to a statement. As a result, the game was postponed for 35 minutes to allow as many spectators with valid tickets as possible to attend.
'As crowds outside the stadium grew after kickoff, police used tear gas to disperse them and drive them away from the stadium.After fans were tear-gassed by police and the Champions League final was delayed by 37 minutes due to thousands of fans being unable to enter the Stade de France, Liverpool has sought a formal investigation.
Fans were stuck in bottlenecks despite getting at the stadium with hours to spare, and the organization around the arena was described as "shambolic," with many supporters afraid for their safety due to the chaotic circumstances.
Fans were also pepper blasted, prompting major questions about UEFA's safety and policing after several children were left in tears, some after being pepper sprayed.According to a statement released by Liverpool, "We are extremely unhappy by the stadium admission issues and security perimeter breach that Liverpool fans experienced at the Stade de France this evening.
"This is the most important event in European football, and fans should not have to witness the scenes that occurred today.
"We have demanded a full investigation into the sources of these egregious problems."After an initial 15-minute delay, UEFA generated outrage by stating the delay was due to "late arrival of supporters," as an initial 15-minute delay was then pushed out even further, with pop singer Camila Cabello performing during an opening ceremony as frantic fans waited. Uefa later explained that the delay was due to "security concerns."Later, UEFA issued a statement stating that the turmoil that marred the final would be investigated.
"Thousands of supporters who had purchased bogus tickets that did not work in the turnstiles blocked the turnstiles at the Liverpool end in the lead-up to the game," the statement stated. "As a result, there was a line of fans waiting to get in." As a result, the game was postponed for 35 minutes to allow as many spectators with valid tickets as possible to attend."After the crowds outside the stadium continued to grow after kickoff, police used tear gas to disperse them and escorted them away from the stadium. UEFA sympathizes with individuals who have been impacted by these incidents and will quickly evaluate the situation with the French police and authorities, as well as the French Football Federation."
Kelly Cates, the daughter of Liverpool star Kenny Dalglish, saw concerns more than two hours before kick-off and cautioned supporters about the dangers in the Saint-Denis area, which was chosen to host the final instead of Saint Petersburg following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The backlog appeared to be forming due to frustratingly delayed security checks, with spectators attempting to enter the stadium via a ramp.The treatment of supporters was also witnessed by the players' families, with Joel Matip's brother, Marvin, explicitly blaming the cops. "The organization in and around the stadium is unfit for a Champions League final!" "It's unsafe to use tear gas in locations where there are youngsters and uninvolved fans," he remarked.
The French police force At 8.40 p.m. local time, he tweeted "do not force entry" in English and Spanish, but there were reports that locals were attempting to enter the stadium without a ticket.A member of the Liverpool club staff tweeted that supporters who were stuck outside were teargassed, according to eyewitness reports. Andy Kelly, a Liverpool journalist, wrote the following:To try to slow the flow of fans up to ticket and bag inspections, police had set up barriers with their vans on the approach to the ramp that led beneath the A1 motorway, which passes the stadium on its west side. When reporters from the Telegraph arrived two and a half hours before kick-off, the checks had slowed to allow only a trickle of fans through, and hundreds of people were crammed into a small space.
Because of the crowd's density, groups were split up, causing confusion. Security personnel shoved the occasional fan without a ticket back into the crowd as they became increasingly concerned that they might lose control, adding to the pressure on those waiting. Some reported they had previously had trouble entering the stadium, even for Six Nations contests. Industrial action on the RER B line, which runs to La Plaine, one of the two main stations serving the stadium, made travel from central Paris to the stadium in the north of the city difficult. As a result, many fans hopped the train to the alternative stop on the RER D line, St Denis.
The French football federation agreed to host the tournament in late February after the game's original destination, St Petersburg, was relocated due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Uefa has so far declined to respond.Peter Moore, the former Liverpool chief executive, called the scenes outside the Stade de France "disgraceful." He questioned Uefa's claims that the kick-off was delayed due to late arrival of fans, claiming that it was the result of "horrendous organization."
As the players warmed up outside the stadium, BT Sport, which was broadcasting the game in the UK, was informed of the concerns. While the first attention was on whether Thiago Alcantara had suffered an injury prior to kick-off, it became evident that there were issues outside when fans seated near the TV gantry claimed they had been teargassed.Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard stated it "wouldn't surprise me if there were 60,000-80,000 Liverpool fans in Paris" and added, "You hope the authorities can regulate it in the proper way."
"You want it to be a great experience and for people to be talking about the game." You don't want anything bad to happen. On the drive there, the traffic was horrible. Let's hope everyone arrives safely at their destination."
"Fans getting teargassed and families getting teargassed," co-commentator Steve McManaman remarked as the game began late. 'Awful scenes,' says the narrator.
Journalists from the Associated Press were told to erase video footage showing crowd issues during the game in order to get access to the stadium. Concourses on the Liverpool side of the stadium swelled as the game progressed.
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