麻豆约拍

Chaotic scenes at the Stade de France in Paris delayed the start of the biggest European soccer game of the season - the Champions League Final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. The match, which Liverpool lost to La Liga Champions Real Madrid, had its kick-off delayed for 30 minutes.

Uefa, European football's governing body, cited "security concerns" for the delay. France has hit out at what it says was "industrial-scale" ticket fraud. Many Liverpool fans have reported distressing scenes as tear gas was fired at them by French police, and children having to be pulled out of crowds to avoid being crushed.

Mathieu Valet, spokesperson for the Independent Police Commissioner Union - the SCIP -聽 that represents senior police officers, says there were several factors - a few hundred French people and "delinquents" causing problems (many of whom were arrested), as well as supporters without tickets or with fake tickets - and these caused bottlenecks.

He admits that there weren't enough police on the ground, but ultimately blames Uefa for failing to control the ticketless fans who turned up. He says that police were using tear gas to control the people who were trying to force their way into the stadium, and unfortunately Liverpool fans were also affected. He says in future, better organisation and more plain clothed police are needed.

"Uefa is a fiasco - Uefa couldn't manage the crowds of tickets who showed up ticketless."

Photo: Liverpool fans cover their mouths and noses as they queue to gain entry to the Stade de France Photo: PA Wire

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