Liverpool defender Andy Robertson hit back at claims about supporters attempting to enter the Champions League final with "fake" tickets.
Kick-off in the match at the Stade de France was delayed after supporters were unable to get into the stadium for the scheduled start time. This was despite reports from attendees about having arrived hours before the game was due to begin.
Robertson, who was playing in his third Champions League final for the Reds, even claimed a friend entering with a ticket provided by the club was accused of having a fake ticket, while UEFA themselves cited "fake tickets" when explaining the scenes. The former Hull City man sympathised with Paris up to a point, with the host city handed the final after it was taken away from original host St Petersburg, but said things should still have been organised "a lot better".
"Pretty much all of our families were affected, I think," the Scotland international told Sky Sports. "Obviously my tickets were through the club and somehow somebody told one of our mates he's got a fake ticket, which I can assure you it definitely wasn't because it was obviously through me.
"Then... the French police decided to throw tear gas on fans, on families and things like that. Look, it's not been well organised, you have to have some sympathy because it's been kind of thrown on Paris last-minute with all that's went on in Russia.
"But as a UEFA competition, as the biggest game in world football, it should be organised a lot better. Delays like that shouldn't be happening, and definitely the force that was used tonight by certain authorities shouldn't be happening either.
"I need to speak to my family. All I know is everyone's safe and that's my main priority."
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Liverpool have issued a statement themselves in response to scenes in the French capital. "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," the club said.
"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."
Fans were teargassed outside the stadium - something acknowledged by UEFA in its own statement about the events which brought about the 36-minute delay to kick-of. "UEFA is sympathetic to those affected by these events and will further review these matters urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation," the governing body said.
On the pitch, the delayed game eventually went the way of Real Madrid. The first half ended goalless, with the Spanish side seeing a goal disallowed, but Vinicius Jr settled the game in the second half.
It was the second time in five years that Liverpool had fallen short against Los Blancos in the final. Jurgen Klopp's side were beaten 3-1 in Kyiv in 2018, and lost by the same scoreline on aggregate in the 2020-21 quarter-finals.
"I think Madrid had one shot on target and it was a goal. But I understand 100% and respect it 100% that the reason for playing football and having competitions is to win the game," Liverpool boss Klopp said after the defeat.
"Whatever you do, within the rules, is completely fine. We played a good game, but when you lose 1-0 you have to admit it wasn't good enough."
