As England’s men’s team attempted to win the Euro 2020 on the pitch, there were ugly scenes in the stands and around Wembley both before, during and after the match.
Drunken and intoxicated individuals congregated in their thousands on Wembley Way, hours before the match kicked off at 8pm on Sunday. Families reportedly left the stadium before full time as the atmosphere had reportedly become very tense and uneasy as people who didn’t have tickets managed to make their way into Wembley and get access to empty seats that were vacant because of Covid measures.
Disturbing scenes also emerged on social media of fans fighting each other in the concourses as large crowds managed to force themselves into the stadium as helpless stewards were unable to contain the masses, leading to some suffering injuries.
Phil Clarke, a long time England away fan told The Independent:“The lack of policing on Wembley Way was so stark. If you take a Millwall game at Leeds United as an example, there are dog handlers everywhere and probably one copper for every two or three fans. On Sunday, they were invisible around the perimeter.”
Inside the stadium, it wasn’t just regular fans who were subject to the thuggery. The British-Belgian Formula One driver Lando Norris was left “shaken” after he had a rare watch gifted to him by McClaren stolen by a group as he was returning to his car in the Wembley car park.
The Bristol-born racer, 21, was unharmed in the incident which occurred after he had watched England’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy on Sunday night.
A statement from the Formula One team said Norris was being supported ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
It read: “McLaren Racing can confirm that Lando Norris was involved in an incident, after the Euro 2020 final match at Wembley, during which the watch he was wearing was taken.
“Thankfully, Lando was unharmed but he is understandably shaken. The team is supporting Lando and we are sure that racing fans will join us in wishing him all the best for the British Grand Prix this weekend.
“As this is now a police matter we cannot comment further.”
Norris has since been inundated with support from fans on Twitter and condemning those who stole his watch.
After attending the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley last night, Lando Norris was robbed while getting into his McLaren GT.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) July 12, 2021
He was left "unharmed," but his $100,000 custom Richard Mille watch was stolen.
Not easy to sell a one-of-one watch. pic.twitter.com/9UUt96j1b1
And it doesn’t matter if Lando Norris is rich, famous, poor, not well known: he’s a human. Both him and Max are. When you get robbed, it can be traumatising. Whether you feel or you don’t feel bad, please have empathy.
— isa 🏁🏎 (@f1witch_) July 12, 2021
Lando Norris being robbed at Wembley after attending last night’s Euro2020 match adds to the contrast between genuine fans who support inspirational sports stars, and the thugs who steal the pride & damage the reputation of the nation they say they support. #F1
— Mark Gallagher (@_markgallagher) July 12, 2021
Yet more shameful behaviour at Wembley last night.
— Steve Alvarez Brown (@_SuperGT) July 12, 2021
Hope you're all good Lando. https://t.co/ZsGTtjKsnC
lando has spoken several times about struggling with his mental health and anxiety. i don’t care if you don’t like him, have some empathy and stop making jokes and fun about the whole situation, that’s just so damn sick. put yourself in his shoes and shut your mouth for once.
— andy (@iiiuminateandy) July 12, 2021
Appreciation tweet for Lando Norris because he deserves every ounce of happiness. Praying he’s okey I can’t imagine how scary that was🤍🤍 pic.twitter.com/83zYHEEK8c
— tatum🏎🏁||race week (@tatumsgF1) July 12, 2021
Can we please give Lando a break? He has been through a lot already.
— Jasmijn (@JasmijnF1) July 12, 2021
On the egde of getting he raceban for incidents he didn’t put anyone in danger in, he gets criticised every time when he says anything in his private life and now he got robbed..
53 arrests were reportedly made with the Metropolitan Police stating “for a number of offences, including public order offences, ABH, drunk and disorderly and criminal damage.”
