Fans from the Liverpool side were tear-gassed prior to the Champions League final vs Real Madrid with the kick off delayed
The kick-off was delayed by more than 30 minutes as fans fought to gain entrance to the stadium in Paris; Liverpool has requested an official probe.
Why Was The Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League 2022 Final Kick Off Delayed Due To Issues At The Stade de France
UEFA has accused “thousands of supporters with bogus tickets” for the delays outside the Stade de France before of the Champions League final, which has been marred by nasty scenes.
Sky Sports News lead correspondent Kaveh Solhekol was among those targeted with tear gas as the mayhem persisted before the final, which began about 40 minutes late.
Liverpool Demanded Investigation
Before UEFA issued its statement, Liverpool demanded a formal inquiry into what happened outside the stadium.
“We are extremely unhappy by the stadium admission difficulties and breach of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans encountered this evening at the Stade de France,” the club said. “This is the biggest match in European football, and fans should not have to watch the sights that we have seen today.”
UEFA Issues Statement
UEFA made the following statement soon before the game, in which Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0: “Thousands of supporters who had obtained bogus tickets for the game blocked the turnstiles at the Liverpool end in the run-up to the game.
“This resulted in a crowd of fans attempting to get in. As a result, the game was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many spectators with valid tickets as possible to enter.
“As crowds grew outside the stadium after kickoff, police dispersed them with tear gas and escorted them away from the stadium.”
Despite hours-long lines, stadium officials blame ‘late comers.’
The kick-off delay was first blamed on supporters, according to an announcement displayed on the large screens inside the Stade de France, which read: “Due to the late arrival of people at the stadium, the match has been delayed.”
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