Champions League final: Uefa commissions independent report into scenes outside stadium

Uefa has commissioned an independent report into the scenes outside the ground that delayed Saturday’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

On Monday, French authorities complained of what they called “industrial-scale” ticket fraud amid a row over the game’s policing.

Uefa said a “comprehensive review” would examine a number of factors.

These include the decision-making, responsibility and behaviour of all parties involved in the final, it added.

Uefa said in a statement: “Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties and the findings of the independent report will be made public once completed. Upon receipt of the findings, Uefa will evaluate the next steps.”

The report will be independently compiled and Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues from Portugal will lead the production of the review.

Uefa initially blamed the “late arrival” of fans for the problems, delaying kick-off by 36 minutes, with Liverpool going on to lose 1-0 to Spanish champions Real Madrid.

France’s interior and sports ministers acknowledged difficulties in managing crowds at the final but have been pointing blame for the chaos at fans with fake tickets and local youths trying to force their way into the stadium.

However, a spokesperson for France’s independent police commissioner’s union (SICP), Mathieu Valet, told the BBC’s Newshour that “supporters without tickets or with fake tickets were not the main problem”.

“It’s clear that we needed more police – we didn’t have enough on the ground,” he said.

On Sunday, Liverpool called for an investigation into the “unacceptable issues” faced by fans before the match.

Many claimed they had been at the stadium hours before kick-off but were stopped from getting into the ground.

UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston said he was “very concerned about the upsetting scenes”, while Reds defender Andy Robertson said the organisation of the match was a “shambles”.  – bbc.com