Champions League final delayed as Liverpool fans report chaos outside

The Champions League final was delayed by more than half an hour on Saturday as Liverpool fans and others reported chaos outside Stade de France as they tried to get in.

A message on the big screens in the stadium initially said the delay was “due to late arrival of fans” and the stadium announcer also stated that. But multiple sources said that was not the case and pointed to poor organisation. The delay was later attributed to “security reasons”.

Gary Lineker tweeted 16 minutes before the scheduled 9pm kick-off local time: “Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage.”

Long queues formed and the Liverpool end was noticeably patchy less than half an hour before the scheduled kick-off as supporters struggled to get in. A few ticketless fans were seen trying to gain access to the stadium, despite a permanent fence being in place around the perimeter. Supporters outside were teargassed by riot police, a Reuters witness said.

Gate Z@RorySmith @henrywinter @JamesPearceLFC @tariqpanja @ptgorst pic.twitter.com/vWlNMeqbEt

French police said in a statement: “Supporters attempted to penetrate the stadium. They forced their way through the first filter. The screening at the Stade de France is watertight.”

Reuters TV footage showed riot police chasing fans outside the stadium as they ran away, with others being escorted away. “We have intervened to push back fans trying to force their way through,” the French police said. The incidents were still going on when the game kicked off 37 minutes late.

Kelly Cates, the Sky Sports presenter and daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish – posted: “Absolutely shambolic at the Stade de France. No way in, no way of knowing which way to