Advertisement

Liverpool respond to ‘unacceptable issues’ ahead of Champions League final as fans tear-gassed

Liverpool respond to ‘unacceptable issues’ ahead of Champions League final as fans tear-gassed

Liverpool have called for an investigation into the ‘unacceptable’ scenes before the Champions League final which saw fans tear-gassed by police and entry gates locked.

The final eventually kicked off 36 minutes late, with UEFA initially blaming “fans arriving late” until that message was changed to “security issues.”

Live on BT Sport, presenter Jake Humphrey said: “I’m very sorry to tell you that a fan has come up onto our podium, in amongst the fans, and said that outside the stadium it is horrendous.

“He said that a huge number of Liverpool fans were tear-gassed by the French police, including families and children. His eyes were streaming. He looked distraught.

“These are only patchy bits of information but we can confirm that tear gas was used outside the stadium this evening, there has been a delay to kick-off.”

ESPN’s Mark Ogden tweeted footage of Liverpool fans with tickets being tear-gassed.

The statement from the club read: “We are hugely disappointed at the stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans faced this evening at Stade de France.

“This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight.

“We have officially requested a formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable issues.”