sport news French minister blames Liverpool fans for Champions League final chaos trends now
The French interior minister has blamed 'thousands of British "supporters" without tickets or with counterfeit tickets' for the chaos that marred Saturday night's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
It came as police in Paris published images of the fake tickets that allegedly caused the problems at the turnstiles.
Kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes following dangerous scenes outside the Stade de France in Paris as thousands of Liverpool fans were crushed and teargassed by police.
UEFA initially blamed supporters arriving late at the stadium for the shambolic scenes at entrance gates but later attributed the issues to fans trying to gain access with fake tickets, which caused delays.
And interior minister Gerald Darmanin has also attempted to point the finger of blame at Liverpool fans.
He tweeted a picture of himself in the police control room at the Stade de France alongside French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera and wrote: 'With @AOC1978, at the Stade de France security headquarters.
'Thousands of British "supporters", without tickets or with counterfeit tickets, forced entry and sometimes assaulted the stewards.
'Thank you to the very many police forces mobilized this evening in this difficult context.'
Chaos erupted outside the Stade de France ahead of Saturday night's Champions League final as police used pepper spray and teargas on Liverpool supporters locked outside
Liverpool fans with genuine tickets were left stuck outside after ticketless supporters attempted to gain access amid chaotic scenes
Local police said there had been 68 arrests in the city and around the stadium during the day, with 174 people 'slightly hurt' without giving further details. A source said the injuries were mainly from tear gas inhalation.
The Parisian authorities earlier tweeted out a picture of a counterfeit ticket for the final, saying 50 had been seized and one arrest made.
It came as Liverpool demanded a formal inquiry after hundreds of their supporters, including pregnant women and young children, were targeted with tear gas during the chaos ahead of the final.
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
