sport news Champions League final: Horror in Paris as Liverpool demand enquiry as fans are ... trends now

Liverpool have demanded an inquiry after the club's supporters, including pregnant women and young children, were targeted with teargas by French police as chaos reigned supreme at Paris' delayed Champions League final.

As the match's 8pm kickoff approached, reports suggested 'hundreds of fans' without tickets attempted to storm the Stade de France ahead of the match, which saw kickoff postponed by 30 minutes amid the disarray.

French police were forced to create a narrow human funnel, prompting crush concerns, as they separated fans trying to enter the venue in concerning scenes harkening to the UEFA Euro 2020 chaos at Wembley stadium.

UEFA has since released a statement that suggested thousands of Liverpool fans had been caught out and tried using 'fake tickets' that didn't work at the turnstiles. The governing body later called for an inquiry from French officials into the use of teargas on fans at the Stade de France.

Meanwhile, a club statement from Liverpool FC after the match read: 'We are hugely disappointed at the stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans faced this evening at Stade de France.

'This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight. We have officially requested a formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable issues.'

Elsewhere French riot police were also accused of attacking Liverpool supporters watching their side lose the final from a dedicated fan zone in the Place de la Nation, Paris. 

Scores of heavily armed officers were filmed hitting those who had gathered there, with a chilling video showing women among the victims of the police violence, which seemed to be unprovoked.

'The police came at the fans with batons and shields,' said an onlooker who witnessed the trouble, which came during the first half.

'Officers had been standing by with water cannon and other crowd control devices all day, and their numbers increased as the day went on.

'They seemed to be unhappy with the amount of drinking that went on, and so decided to move in. It seemed to be unprovoked.'

A police source said the officers were responding to 'crown trouble' among the thousands of Liverpool fans around Place de la Nation.

Footage posted online also appeared to show fans climbing over fences at the Stade de France and rushing up steps leading to seating areas with no attempt to stop them. 

Twenty-five minutes before the scheduled kick off Paris police put out a tweet urging fans not to 'rush the gates' as they approached the ground. But by then there were already reports of tear gas and pepper spray being used on fans who had been queuing more than two hours to get in. 

Journalists caught up in the chaos allege they were 'forced to delete' incriminating footage of the heavy-handed security response before UEFA officials intervened to calm the situation.

Gary Lineker led the condemnation as he offered a scathing assessment of the security situation at the Stade de France ahead of the delayed UEFA Champions League final. 

Speaking to AP while queuing, a fan said: 'It's absolutely horrendous. There's a bottleneck down there and there's literally a six-foot gap for maybe 20,000 Liverpool fans to get in.

'We are absolutely being pushed from pillar to post. I have an 82-year-old father in law here. It's just madness. I'm really sorry but there are just thousands behind us.' 

BBC Journalist Nick Parrott, who had attended Saturday's match and was part of a group of fans who were pepper-sprayed, told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I was outside Gate Y which has been opening and closing repeatedly over the last hour and a half but nobody has been going through. The security staff on the other side advanced and sprayed pepper spray.

'I have seen 10 fans trying to climb over fences. Gate Z is open but there does not seem to be any movement going in. I have never seen this sort of chaos at any match I have been to in a personal capacity.'

Marvin Matip, the brother of Liverpool defender Joel, told Sky Sport Germany: 'The organisation around and in the stadium is unworthy of a Champions League final. Using tear gas in areas with children and uninvolved fans is dangerous!'

Reporter Florian Plettenberg said that Marvin Matip, his wife, who is pregnant, and family were forced to flee the ground and and hide in a restaurant from tear gas. One video shared widely across social media showed a young Liverpool fan coughing and spluttering after being pepper-sprayed by police.

Kickoff was pushed back to 9.30pm local time (8.30GMT) as a result, with eyewitnesses adding that fans were being held in 'long and slow moving' hour-long queues outside the stadium as the final fast approached.

UEFA tried to maintain a veneer of calm by first announcing a delay of 15 minutes for what they called 'security reasons', then lengthened to half-an-hour with the finally starting after that. 

Tens of thousands of fans missed out on bagging tickets for the highly-anticipated showdown, and it is believed many have headed to the French capital regardless.

And it appears that, amid unsightly scenes, troublemakers managed to break through security gates and past the police officers safeguarding the event. 

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

'Stay safe if you're heading in. It has the potential to be very dangerous'.

Jim Beglin, a former Liverpool defender now working as a commentator, added: 'What's happening at the Stade De France right now is a disgrace. Allow the Liverpool fans to enter gates A and Z!' 

It comes as fans were turned away from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport this morning after tour operator World Choice Sports scrapped one of its flights to the French capital.

But the problems were not exclusively in the air, with dozens of fans also abandoned at the side of the road after their coaches failed to turn up and transport them to Paris, leaving many with no option but to go home.

Fans who have already made it to Paris are doing their best to turn the French capital red with flares going off at the Eiffel Tower and thousands already packed into the fan zone set up for Liverpool supporters by city authorities.

A dedicated group of Liverpool supporters hired a speed boat in a mad dash to get to Paris for the Champions League Final after their easyJet flight was cancelled.

Meanwhile, not satisfied with some of the extortionate ticket prices being offered by travel companies, YouTuber Simon Wilson forked out £5,000 on a huge bus to take fans to the French capital, charging each supporter just £1 to get on board.

But not every one was as lucky as hundreds of other Reds fans were also left scrambling to find alternative ways to get to Paris in time after airlines cancelled flights last minute and France-bound coaches failed to turn up in time.

Paddy O'Toole and 12 others had to charter the novel way to cross the Channel late on Friday after their initial plans to fly were scuppered.

Two of the fans, Adam and Tom Dring, flew down to Heathrow to try and get another flight but they were unsuccessful so decided to team up with family friend Paddy who lives on Jersey.

The lads flew from Heathrow to Jersey and Paddy contacted a friend who runs a boat chartering firm called Le Mourier on the island.

Paddy told the Liverpool Echo: 'They got a flight to Jersey last minute and they met up with us and asked could we get them to France.

'We felt sorry for the young lads so we had to do something.'

The fan group in Jersey were able to charter a speed boat to cross from Jersey to Saint-Malo where they could then continue their journey on to the capital in time for Saturday's clash. 

Video posted on Paddy's Twitter account shows the group bouncing across the waves as they head towards France in a Redbay Stormforce 950.

Among the people onboard was 72-year-old Dave Walsh, Jamie O'Neill, Jay and Billy Giles and Joey OToole. 

On the footage someone can be heard: 'Just coming into France, we must be off our heads.' As Billy Joel's 'We didn't start the fire' blares out.

Paddy added: 'We saw a few dolphins on the way and got the train to Rennes and then to Paris.

'A few more of are mates from Liverpool who live in Jersey heard we were going and joined on. We haven't got a ticket between us.' 

Le Mourier tweeted:'We are glad you enjoyed your voyage and wish you the very best onward journey.'

Once in Saint-Malo the group boarded a train to Paris in time for the clash this evening.

The astonishing feat was admired by fellow Liverpool fans who congratulated the men on their ingenuity.

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One fan said: 'Goosebumps. Best supporters on the planet, will do whatever it takes to see their team. YNWA.'

Another added: 'That's brillant well done lads!! They always say where ever there's a match scousers will find there!!! Class!!' 

One joked: 'Better watch out on the way back, Patel'll have them off to Rwanda.'

It comes as a coach bought by a Liverpool supporter to transport dozens of fellow fans to Paris for just £1 each has arrived in the city ahead of the Champions League final.

Simon Wilson, a British vlogger, from Wrexham, bought the cheapest coach he could find for £5,000 to take as many fans there to avoid the 'extortionate' travel fees.

Just £1 each meant around 50 supporters could go from Anfield to the French capital in time for the game.

Mr Wilson said: 'It's one of the toughest things I've ever done, setting off on Thursday morning, I never thought it would take as long as it did.

'Along the way there have been some worried faces, people expecting to get to Paris and thinking we wouldn't, but I always had faith, despite all the challenges we've had.

'I've never had so little sleep in all my life, I've managed a few hours, but it was worth it. Now we can soak up the atmosphere here before the game.'

He said the original coach had to be replaced and the ferry to cross at Dover had to be pushed back as they were behind schedule.

However, after getting in to France in the early hours, the coach pushed on and made it to Paris by the afternoon.

Wilson is also known for driving a £40 Skoda to the Champions League final in Madrid in 2019.

He added: 'The fees people were charged were pretty extortionate, it's shocking, so I wanted to give something back, get the fans over here.

'People want to come to Paris to watch their team - they should be able to do it without being charged so much money.

'It's all been pretty expensive, the original coach was £5,000, I then wrapped it for another £8,000 and then there's the hidden costs, it was a lot of money, but I wanted to help.

'I was always positive, I knew we would get here. I'd just like to say thanks to Revolut for making it possible.'

The coach will return to the UK on Sunday after the match.

Meanwhile, easyJet has cancelled more than 200 flights over the next 10 days as transport disruption hampers the outset of the half-term break.

The airline said the cancellations would affect about 24 flights per day from London's Gatwick airport between May 28 and June 6.

It added the cancellations were 'necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period'.

At Liverpool's John Lennon Airport, more than 100 LFC fans who paid around £650 through tour operator WorldChoice Sports couldn't board their flights to Paris after the company cancelled two flights and managed to replace one.

Pictures showed crowds of Reds supporters being turned away after the Paris-bound flight was cancelled last minute on Saturday morning.

Keenan Downey and his father Leslie arrived at Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 1.30am on Saturday, hoping to catch a 4am flight to Paris.

However, they were among scores of fans who faced lengthy delays after a flight cancellation.

Mr Downey, 25, who travelled from Anglesey, Wales, says the flight was rescheduled to depart at 5.45am but was cancelled.

He was then told there was no flights left at 3.30am, leaving him 'stood around helpless', before he finally boarded a rescheduled flight at 9.40am.

The pair booked the flights through World Choice Sports, which sells packages to sporting events, for about £1,300.

Prior to boarding the plane, he said: 'I'm not even confident that we will get out there at the moment.

'I have got the boarding pass in my hand but until we are sat in that seat and we are taking off I won't be confident that we'll get there. It is pretty crazy.'

He added: 'It is my first-ever final. My old man, he is fortunate, this will be his third. But this is my first and I am just devastated. I'm not certain we will be going.

'The biggest worry is getting home of course, although if we win I won't be worrying about that.'

Calls to World Choice Sports are greeted by a recorded statement saying: 'If your flight has been cancelled, please accept our apologies as it was due to matters out of our control.

'Please rest assured we will be refunding you in full in the next few days. Once again, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

A spokesperson for WorldChoice Sports said: 'If your flight has been cancelled, please accept our apologies. Fortunately, this only affected a small number of passengers.

'This was due to matters beyond our control. Rest assured that we will be refunding you in full during the next coming days.

'We were very badly let down by the broker and the airline. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused.' 

Liverpool FC supporters travelling to the Champions League final also faced long

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