"Fake Tickets" To Blame For Champions League Final Delay, Says UEFA

The Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris kicked off over half an hour later than scheduled having been delayed due to "fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles" UEFA said on Saturday. The match was supposed to kick off at 21:00 (1900 GMT) at the Stade de France but got pushed back due to the queues of fans who could not get in due to the fake tickets. "In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles," read UEFA's statement.

"This created a build-up of fans trying to get in.

"As a result, the kick off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with genuine tickets to gain access.

"As numbers outside the stadium continued to build up after kick off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them away from the stadium.

"UEFA is sympathetic to those affected by these events and will further review these matters urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation."

Police sources told AFP that supporters tried to force their way through the first ticket checkpoint outside the stadium -- situated in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.

Tear gas was fired by police after several dozen people attempted to climb over barriers, according to an AFP journalist on the scene with about 20 succeeding in doing so and getting into the ground.

Thousands of supporters were still massed outside the stadium with half an hour to go to kick-off.

Football Supporters Europe, a lobbying group representing fans around the continent, hit back at the security arrangements.

"Fans at the Champions League final bear no