Liverpool fans blamed for sparking trouble | 'No justification for French police'

France's sports minister says that Liverpool fans without valid tickets were responsible for initial crowd control problems at the Champions League final, with problems exacerbated later by local youths trying to force their way in to the game.

Saturday's game at the Stade de France between Liverpool and Real Madrid kicked off with a 36-minute delay after police tried to hold back people attempting to force their way into the French national stadium without tickets, while some ticket holders complained they were not let in.

"What happened, first of all, was this mass gathering of the British supporters of the Liverpool club, without tickets, or with fake tickets," she told French radio RTL on Monday.

"When there are that many people by the entrance to the stadium, there will be people trying to force their way in through the doors of the Stade de France, and a certain number of youths from the nearby area who were present tried to get in by mixing in with the crowd."

UEFA blamed "thousands of fans with fake tickets" for causing delays, while UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Liverpool called for a formal investigation into what caused the chaos.

Sky Sports News' chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol was among those who were targeted with tear gas as the chaos continued before the final.

There was "no obvious justification" for the kind of behaviour shown by French police in Paris, culture minister Chris Philp has said.

Speaking to Sky News, Philp said: "I was horrified to see those pictures of fans, including some children, disabled fans, being pepper-sprayed by French police.

"And from the pictures I saw there was no obvious justification for that kind of behaviour. So Nadine (Dorries), I think is quite right to call for