Uefa forced to release statement over Champions League final delays with chaos outside stadium and fans teargassed
UEFA have been forced to release a statement over the chaotic scenes engulfing tonight’s Champions League final.
Liverpool and Real Madrid’s match was pushed back by over half an hour after Reds fans struggled to get into the Stade de France.
Some Liverpool supporters were even teargassed by Paris police as huge queues formed around the arena.
And Uefa have now claimed the game was delayed until 8.37pm “for security reasons.”
Originally, the governing body said the match was pushed back due to the “late arrival of fans.”
It was visibly clear in the build-up to the initial 8pm kick-off that Real Madrid’s section of the Stade de France was almost full.
But Liverpool’s end was nowhere near packed, with thousands of supporters left outside scrambling trying to get in.
ESPN reported a build-up of supporters at perimeter points where tickets are checked and bags searched.
Because of that the authorities opened up the first control point to increase the flow of people and decrease crowding.
There were also reports of some gates being closed and Reds being directed towards a small Real Madrid entrance that quickly became blocked due to significant numbers of fans trying to get in.
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That caused large portions of the Liverpool end to remain empty minutes prior to kick-off, leading to the delay.
There were also reports of tear gas being used on fans by authorities outside the ground.
Uefa then announced the delay was due to fans not arriving early enough, despite some supporters claiming they were outside the stadium two-three hours before kick-off.
Gary Lineker tweeted 15 minutes before the scheduled kick-off: “Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage.”
After kick-off was delayed for a second time the BBC presenter added: “I’m not sure it’s possible to have a more poorly organised event if you tried. Absolutely shambolic and dangerous. @UEFA.
“They’ve just announced another 15 minute delay ‘because of the late arrival of fans’. Utter bulls**t.”
Another tweet on the situation read: “Loads of Liverpool fans still miles away from the ground with 20 minutes to kick-off. Huge congestion issues and reports of checkpoint chaos.
“Real Madrid end completely full, Liverpool end very sparse. Fans outside, with tickets, been here for hours before kick off, not able to get in. Absolute chaos.”
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ESPN reporter Mark Ogen wrote: “Whatever happens now — and no way the Liverpool end will be full at the start — UEFA have to work out how the Real Madrid fans were able to fill their end almost an hour before KO, while thousands of Lpool fans were stuck outside in huge queues for over an hour.”
The brother of Liverpool defender Joel Matip, Marvin, slammed the situation saying: “The organisation around and in the stadium is unworthy of a CL final! Using tear gas in areas with children and uninvolved fans is dangerous!”