Liverpool Requests Investigation into Stadium Issues Before Champions League Final

Mike Chiari @@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVMay 28, 2022

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: A general view of the inside of the Stade de France during the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Angel Martinez - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Angel Martinez - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Liverpool is looking for answers after fans struggled to get into Stade de France in Paris prior to Saturday's UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid.

According to Melissa Reddy of Sky Sports, Liverpool has "requested a formal investigation" to determine what led to "stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that fans faced this evening at Stade de France."

Liverpool also called the situation "unacceptable."

The UCL final had been scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET, but it was delayed by more than 30 minutes because of the delays faced by fans who were trying to enter the venue.

Rob Harris of the Associated Press tweeted a statement from UEFA, which said that fans purchasing fake tickets that didn't scan at the gates led to congestion entering the stadium:

Rob Harris @RobHarris
UEFA statement blame those with fake tickets for Paris chaos (doesn't say where they are from)<br><br>"Turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. This created a build-up of fans trying to get in" <a href="https://t.co/O3XIMHyjPF">pic.twitter.com/O3XIMHyjPF</a>

When the match was initially delayed, UEFA placed a message on screens inside the stadium saying that it was due to "late arrival of fans."

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

B/R Football @brfootball
The Champions League final has been delayed by 15 minutes due to late fan arrivals at the stadium <a href="https://t.co/9JAw5KhPsR">pic.twitter.com/9JAw5KhPsR</a>

Multiple reports later suggested that the fans were not at fault, though. Miguel Delaney of the Independent tweeted that many fans having trouble getting into the stadium had arrived hours before the scheduled start time of the match.

The situation escalated to dangerous levels, as police used pepper spray on fans attempting to enter Stade de France in some cases:

Football Tweet ⚽ @Football__Tweet
Pepper spraying children. Defend that.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a><br> <a href="https://t.co/qmiCLACvy5">pic.twitter.com/qmiCLACvy5</a>

Mark Ogden @MarkOgden_
Pepper spraying fans outside stadium in Paris <a href="https://t.co/drgzEpR9gD">pic.twitter.com/drgzEpR9gD</a>

UEFA initially announced a 15-minute delay, but it was later extended, leading to the match starting more than a half-hour later than originally intended.

Two of the biggest and most loyal fanbases in all of soccer were on hand to watch the UEFA Champions League final between clubs that have experienced great success in the UCL final.

Entering Saturday's contest, Real Madrid had won more Champions League titles than any other club with 13, while Liverpool was tied for third with six.

Real Madrid ultimately added a 14th UCL championship Saturday, as they topped Liverpool 1-0 on a 59th-minute goal by Vinicius Junior.