Uefa blames 'fake tickets' for Champions League final stadium chaos

European football's governing body, Uefa, said "fake tickets" were to blame for the 36-minute delay to Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid as chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France prevented thousands of fans from entering the stadium.

Uefa said French police had fired tear gas to disperse thousands of frustrated fans who were building up outside the ground as a result of the fake tickets issue.

But Liverpool said they were "hugely disappointed" that their supporters had been subjected to an "unacceptable" breakdown of the security perimeter at France's national stadium, while Reds defender Andrew Robertson described the organisation as a "shambles".

The final of Europe's most prestigious club competition was supposed to kick off at 9:00pm local time (11pm UAE) but was pushed back due to the queues of mainly Liverpool fans who could not get into the ground.

"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," Uefa said in a 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 said they were "sympathetic" to the fans affected and would review the situation together with local police and authorities, as well as the French Football Federation.

Some of the supporters with valid tickets did not get into the ground until the end of the first half. However, French Interior Minister Gerald