According to the UEFA football association, false tickets are the reason that the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris started half an hour later on Saturday evening. The match was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. at the Stade de France, but was postponed due to queues of fans unable to enter due to the fake tickets.
“In the run-up to the match, the entrance gates on the Liverpool side were blocked by thousands of fans who had bought fake tickets that did not work at the gates,” said UEFA’s statement. “This caused a rush of fans trying to get in. As a result, kick-off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with real tickets to enter.”
Supporters tried to get in anyway, which led to chaotic scenes at the entrance of the stadium. The police intervened. “While the numbers outside the stadium continued to increase after kick-off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them out of the stadium,” UEFA said.
Liverpool have now pushed for an official investigation. The English football club says it is “deeply disappointed with the problems with access to the stadium” that have affected Liverpool fans.