European football governing body UEFA faced criticism from Liverpool after a 35-minute delay disrupted the Champions League final between the English club and Real Madrid in Paris. The match, scheduled to begin at 9:00pm (1900 GMT), was postponed due to issues with counterfeit tickets preventing fans from entering the Stade de France.
UEFA stated that thousands of fans with invalid tickets caused congestion at turnstiles, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse crowds outside the stadium. The organization expressed sympathy for affected supporters and pledged to investigate with French authorities.
Liverpool condemned the handling of their fans, calling the security breach "unacceptable." The club demanded a formal inquiry into the "breakdown of the security perimeter" that left supporters stranded outside the venue. Some fans with valid tickets entered only after the first half had ended.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin blamed Liverpool supporters for the unrest, claiming thousands with fake tickets "behaved violently" toward stewards. Police arrested a ticket vendor selling counterfeit passes near a fan zone set up for unregistered supporters.
One fan compared the scene to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, citing police tactics that mirrored past tragedies. "They opened and shut the gates," he said, describing a chaotic atmosphere that left attendees feeling unsafe.
Over 7,000 officers were deployed to manage the crowd, with a 44,000-capacity fan zone established for unregistered supporters. The match ultimately concluded with Real Madrid winning 1-0 via a 59th-minute goal.
