Uefa forced to release statement over Champions League final delays with chaos outside stadium and fans teargassed
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UEFA have been forced to release a statement over the chaotic scenes that engulfed the Champions League final.
Liverpool and Real Madrid's match was pushed back by over half an hour after Reds fans struggled to get into the Stade de France.
Liverpool supporters were even teargassed by heavy-handed Paris police as huge queues formed around the arena.
And Uefa have now claimed the game was delayed until 8.36pm "for security reasons."
Originally, the governing body said the match was pushed back due to the "late arrival of fans."
It was clear in the build-up to the initial 8pm kick-off that Real Madrid's section of the Stade de France was almost full.
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But Liverpool's end was nowhere near packed, with thousands of supporters left outside trying to get in.
Real Madrid won 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from Vinicius Jr.
Gary Lineker was among the fans stuck outside the ground, with the Match Of The Day host slamming "dangerous" scenes.
Lineker tweeted: "Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage."
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With the scheduled 8pm kick-off time approaching, the Liverpool end of the stadium remained noticeably empty.
Kick-off was initially pushed back by fifteen minutes, and then a further twenty as scenes outside worsened.
reported an initial build-up of supporters at perimeter points where tickets are checked and bags searched.
While some gates were closed with Reds fans being directed towards a small Real Madrid entrance that quickly became blocked due to significant numbers of fans trying to get in.
As frustrated fans patiently waited outside, worrying images emerged or tear gas and pepper spray being deployed by police.
ESPN reporter Mark Ogden filmed peaceful Liverpool fans, showing their match tickets, stuck outside being pepper-sprayed as they tried to cover their mouths to protect themselves.
One that he had been targeted by police outside the ground, with them using pepper spray "indiscriminately" on fans.
He said: "This is the first time I've been pepper-sprayed at a football game! The Liverpool fans are behaving themselves!"
Liverpool announced they have requested a formal investigation into the scenes.
A statement said: "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.
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";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."