Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DAY OF SHAME
Thugs’ horrific Wembley riot at Euro 2020 was ‘so near to causing deaths’, probe finds
RAIN and England’s loss at the Euro 2020 final stopped Wembley being stormed with horrific results, an independent review has found.
Baroness Casey of Blackstock found a “collective failure” by organisations in match preparations put lives at risk.
“I am clear we were close to fatalities and/or life-changing injuries for some, potentially many,” she concluded.
“That this should happen anywhere in 21st century Britain is a source of concern. That it should happen at our national stadium and on the day of our biggest game of football for 55 years is a source of national shame.”
Around 2,000 ticketless drunken thugs, some openly snorting cocaine, stormed the stadium at the July 11 England versus Italy clash.
CCTV showed women and children being trampled during 17 “major breaches” of fire exits and disabled entrances.
One yob impersonated a steward and hijacked a child in a wheelchair. Among harrowing accounts, one fan wrote: “My sons cried for most of the game.”
A ticketless group of 6,000 were believed to be preparing to storm the stadium as fans were trying to leave.
Crowd safety expert Eric Stuart said: “Had the weather not turned wet, and had England won the game, the consequences need little imagination.”
The final was the biggest fixture in England since the 1966 World Cup final and happened after lockdown rules had eased, creating a “perfect storm”.
The Met Police made repeated failed requests to the Government for a fan zone, the absence of which contributed to the chaos, the review found. Commander Rachel Williams said: “We regret we were not able to do more to prevent those scenes unfolding.”
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham apologised for the “terrible experience”.
More than 20 “nearmisses” were identified, where ticketless fans were deemed to have created risks such as trampling and barrier collapse.
The Government said that it would “consider the report’s recommendations in full”.
Tony Taylor, of Level Playing Field, which supports disabled spectators, said: “It’s vital that intelligence gathering ahead of fixtures is acted on.”
That this should happen is a national shame BARONESS CASEY FINDINGS OF HER REPORT