Ugly scenes mar Wembley final
THREE pitch invaders managed to evade security and run on to the turf within the first minute of last night’s Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.
It came after ugly scenes outside the stadium when ticketless youths, none believed to be travelling Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid fans, rushed past security guards in a bid to force their way inside the stadium ahead of the kick-off.
A large group were seen jumping over fences and pushing through ticket stalls before being repelled back. Mounted police and riot squad officers outside also intervened to restore order.
The breaches came after the Football Association pumped £5million into the security operation, with a “ring of steel” involving thousands of stewards and enhanced ticket checks.
More than 2,500 security stewards had been deployed, the mostwembley has ever seen.
It had been put in place to avoid a repeat of England’s Euro 2020 day of shame when hundreds of ticketless and drunk or high England fans stormed past security to get to the stands and watch the The Three Lions take on Italy. Wembley that night was a scene of drink and drug-fuelled chaos, with fights breaking out around the London stadium.
Moments after yesterday’s kick-off the three fans invaded the pitch. One wearing a black T-shirt even took selfies with Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior at European football’s showpiece.
Two others wearing white T-shirts also managed to get on, with one tackled and pinned down by Borussia Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer.
TV coverage then cut away from showing the pitch invaders to the crowds as they were escorted away. Both mangers Carlo Ancelotti and Edin Terzic looked on in annoyance as they waited for the game to resume after two minutes of stoppage.
The last two Champions League finals, in Paris and Istanbul, were also overshadowed by logistical problems outside the stadiums leading to chaotic scenes – something the FA have been desperate to avoid.
‘One wearing a black T-shirt even took selfies’