Fans Spotted Running Through And Over Gates At Stade De France, Security 'Unable To Stop Them'
The UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool was delayed to 9.30pm local time, with fan chaos outside the Stade de France being labelled a "nightmare" ahead of kick-off.
The two European giants will go head to head in Paris tonight on one of the biggest nights in the football calendar, but issues getting fans inside the stadium caused mayhem and panic.
Reports of security guards being "overwhelmed" emerged over an hour before kick-off, with lots of fans being shoved together in a small space.
Fans struggling to get into Stade de France. "Nightmare...horrendous queues just to get to first check, all the fans won't get in at this rate," says one #LFC fan. "Chaos" says another. #UCLfinal @UEFA
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 28, 2022
Chaotic footage soon emerged of fans running through the gates of the Stade de France, with security guards unable to stop them.
In fact, more footage of fans 'trying to sneak into the stadium' by jumping over the gates was posted online, just minutes before the scheduled start of the final.
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As you can see in the tweet below, Spanish publication El Chiringuito TV posted a clip of the shocking scenes in Paris.
Small number of fans running through gates at Stade de France, security unable to stop them, lots of fans still to be allowed in #ChampionsLeague #liverpool #realmadrid pic.twitter.com/Do1cwPYlig
— John Watson (@JohnWatsonSport) May 28, 2022
🚨LÍO EN EL STADE DE FRANCE🚨
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) May 28, 2022
😳Aficionados se intentan colar al estadio a minutos del comienzo de la #UCLfinal. (vía @marcosbenito9)
🔴 YT: https://t.co/tJRA1ghizD
🟣 TW: https://t.co/D7dqcx1x2q
🔵 FB: https://t.co/2iDpF3bwUU pic.twitter.com/mB6EjuUDFq
¡LOCURA TOTAL! Por estos inconvenientes con los hinchas del Liverpool en la entrada al Stade de France, la final de la #CHAMPIONSxESPN fue postergada 15 minutos.
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 28, 2022
📹 @idoxzi pic.twitter.com/W6leWZws4V
It didn't stop there, either. This clip was posted on Twitter after Gary Lineker said he was finding it "impossible" to get into the ground. He added: "This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage."
UEFA, meanwhile, announced that the delay was due to “security reasons” while the screens inside the Stade de France suggested it was due to the late arrival of fans.
— Sam Wiggins (@sam_wiggins) May 28, 2022
They’ve just announced another 15 minute delay “because of the late arrival of fans”. Utter bullshit.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2022
After the delay was confirmed, BT Sport confirmed that tear gas had been used outside the stadium to deal with the situation.
Michael Owen, who was on punditry duty for BT Sport alongside Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard, said: "It is so sad and obviously everything has to be military precision out there. We don't know what's gone on, but it is sad to hear."
Ferdinand added: "We pray for people's safety. You come to football to be entertained."
Fans furious outside the Stade de France over hours of queues and crushes with the area struggling to cope with #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/h0wibfvf4v
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) May 28, 2022
The issues outside the Stade de France as seen by one fan pic.twitter.com/QV40kmytys
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) May 28, 2022
Pepper spraying fans outside stadium in Paris pic.twitter.com/drgzEpR9gD
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) May 28, 2022
The final finally got underway more than a half-hour behind schedule.
Topics: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Champions League
Jack Kenmare