UEFA to investigate fake tickets, use of tear gas at CL final
The UEFA says it was sympathetic to those affected by fake match tickets and will further review these matters with the French side.
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French riot police attacked fans at a dedicated fan zone around Place de la Nation
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) confirmed on Saturday that it will investigate the incident that led to the delay of the Champions League final and prompted police to use tear gas.
The Champions League's final match was held on Saturday at the Stade de France in Paris and ended with Real Madrid crowned as winners, beating Liverpool with a score of 1-0, when Brazilian player Vinicius Junior scored the only goal in the 59th minute of the match.
#RealMadrid wins the 14th #ChampionsLeague title🏆.#ChampionsLeagueFinal pic.twitter.com/kg1DnVoxB5
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 28, 2022
The Spanish team's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, became the most successful manager in the tournament's history, now having four Champions League wins on his record.
In a statement, the UEFA said that "In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands [of] fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles."
According to UEFA, this situation led to a 35-minute delay in the game.
"As numbers outside the stadium continued to build up after kick-off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them away from the stadium," UEFA indicated, adding that it was "sympathetic to those affected by these events and will further review these matters urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation."
A look at Paris right now as Liverpool fans are stuck outside the stadium due to poor crowd control and can’t get into the Champions League final @StoolFootball pic.twitter.com/ye8cNlA8cS
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 28, 2022
The Mirror mentioned that French riot police attacked fans at a dedicated fan zone around Place de la Nation in the east of Paris on Saturday.
The newspaper highlighted that there were reportedly women among the victims of the police violence, with law enforcement officers having attacked fans with tear gas, batons, and shields.
The Champions League final was originally supposed to take place in Russia’s St. Petersburg, but UEFA relocated the match after the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.
