Champions League final DELAYED as Gary Lineker slams ‘dangerous’ scenes with peaceful Liverpool fans tear-gassed by cops
THE Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid was delayed by 36 minutes after hundreds of fans struggled to get into the Stade De France.
There was chaos outside the stadium about an hour before kick-off with supporters held up when trying to enter the stadium.
Gary Lineker was among the fans stuck outside the ground, with the Match Of The Day host slamming “dangerous” scenes.
Lineker tweeted: “Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage.”
With the scheduled 8pm kick-off time approaching, the Liverpool end of the stadium remained noticeably empty.
Kick-off was initially pushed back by fifteen minutes, and then a further twenty as scenes outside worsened.
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After the second delay, Lineker 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.”
Meanwhile outside fans were met with long queues and apparent heavy-handed policing.
ESPN reported an initial build-up of supporters at perimeter points where tickets are checked and bags searched.
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While some gates were closed with Reds fans being directed towards a small Real Madrid entrance that quickly became blocked due to significant numbers of fans trying to get in.
As frustrated fans patiently waited outside, worrying images emerged or tear gas and pepper spray being deployed by police.
ESPN reporter Mark Ogden filmed peaceful Liverpool fans, showing their match tickets, stuck outside being pepper-sprayed as they tried to cover their mouths to protect themselves.
One BBC journalist, Nick Parrott, told Five Live that he had been targeted by police outside the ground, with them using pepper spray “indiscriminately” on fans.
He said: “This is the first time I’ve been pepper-sprayed at a football game! The Liverpool fans are behaving themselves!”
Liverpool defender Joel Matip’s family were also caught in the shocking scenes.
Matip’s brother Marvin and his pregnant wife were forced to flee and seek refuge in a restaurant after she was pepper-sprayed as they tried to access the stadium.
A furious Marvin told German reporters: “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!”
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Uefa insisted the delay was due to fans not arriving early enough, despite some supporters claiming they were outside the stadium two-to-three hours before kick-off.
When play did eventually begin after 8:30pm, there were still thousands of empty seats in the stadium.