UEFA: fake cards cause delay of Champions League final

According to the UEFA football association, false tickets are the reason that the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris started half an hour later on Saturday evening. The match was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. at the Stade de France, but was postponed due to queues of fans unable to enter due to the fake tickets.

“In the run-up to the match, the entrance gates on the Liverpool side were blocked by thousands of fans who had bought fake tickets that did not work at the gates,” said UEFA’s statement. “This caused a rush of fans trying to get in. As a result, kick-off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with real tickets to enter.”

Supporters tried to get in anyway, which led to chaotic scenes at the entrance of the stadium. The police intervened. “While the numbers outside the stadium continued to increase after kick-off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them out of the stadium,” UEFA said.

Liverpool have now pushed for an official investigation. The English football club says it is “deeply disappointed with the problems with access to the stadium” that have affected Liverpool fans. UEFA said it is “sympathetic to those affected by these events and will urgently review these matters with the French police and authorities, as well as with the French Football Association.”

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said after the game that he had heard that “some families had a lot of trouble getting into the stadium. I heard a few things that were not good, not nice.” Former England international Gary Lineker tweeted: “It is impossible to get into the stadium. This is very dangerous. An absolute carnage. I am not sure it is possible to have a worse organized event.”

After the game, it was restless in various places in the French capital. French media report that police have made 68 arrests outside the stadium and at the two fan zones set up for the English and Spanish supporters. 238 people were injured. In almost all cases, the injuries were minor and victims were treated at the scene by emergency personnel.

AP