France’s sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, has attributed the initial crowd chaos at Saturday’s Champions League final in Paris to fans with fake tickets, despite widespread criticism of how the event was policed.
Speaking on French radio, Ms Oudéa-Castéra said a “mass gathering” of Liverpool supporters without valid tickets triggered the congestion outside the Stade de France. She added that local youths attempting to force their way into the stadium compounded the situation.
“The initial problem was this mass gathering of British supporters of the Liverpool club, without tickets, or with fake tickets,” she said. “A certain number of youths from the nearby area tried to enter by mixing with the crowd.”
The final, in which Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0, was delayed by 35 minutes due to the turmoil outside the stadium. French police were criticized for using pepper spray and tear gas on fans waiting to enter, as well as for restricting access to a main road leading to the stadium, which caused dangerous crowding in an underpass.
Liverpool fans and officials have condemned the response. Merseyside police, who were present in Paris, said the vast majority of Liverpool supporters arrived early and behaved responsibly. Some TV footage appeared to show young men not wearing Liverpool shirts climbing over gates and fleeing security.
Fans described frightening experiences. Tom Whitehurst recounted moving his disabled son out of the way after being pepper-sprayed. Andy Robertson criticized the event’s organisation after a friend with a genuine ticket was denied entry, while Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson described the police response as “absolutely disgusting,” noting fans were trapped and sprayed indiscriminately despite holding valid tickets.
The chaos has also become a political embarrassment for France, which is preparing to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games. Ms Oudéa-Castéra expressed regret for families and children affected by the use of tear gas, but insisted that Real Madrid supporters did not experience any problems and were well managed.
Uefa initially blamed late arrivals for the disruption, but the ongoing debate highlights major concerns over crowd management, ticketing, and the role of security at Europe’s biggest football events.
