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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sean Bradbury

Fans and Liverpool team bus caught up in 'chaos' outside Stade de France before Champions League final

Fans making their way to the ground for the Champions League final have been caught up in "chaos" and a "big bottleneck", according to reports.

Liverpool are taking on Real Madrid at the Stade de France this evening, with kick off scheduled for 8pm UK time.

But shortly before 6.30pm, Telegraph journalist Sam Wallace posted on Twitter to say: "Chaos at the Stade de France on a big bottleneck on the ramp by gate U. Security guards overwhelmed and lots of fans shoved together. Very unpleasant experience".

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Numerous fans replying to his post gave their takes, with one saying: "Organisation at the fan zone was very poor as well nowhere near as good as Madrid."

Another fan claimed supporters had been queueing outside the stadium for over two hours and fear they will miss kick off.

He added: "Been queuing for two hours, it is an absolute joke. French security and police are checking everyone but only have two gates open. We don't think we'll be inside for 8pm."

While another Red tweeted: "Absolute disgrace outside the ground. [G]uards who took me round the neck because I was being pushed and they thought it was me. Absolutely grim."

Broadcaster Kelly Cates tweeted: "Absolutely shambolic at the Stade de France. No way in, no way of knowing which way to go. Stay safe if you’re heading in. It has the potential to be very dangerous."

Just before 7pm, Simon Hughes of the Athletic posted: "Uncomfortable route into the ground here. One way in via an underpass. Police directing people the same way and grumpy about complaints. Very slow movement."

At 7.11pm, Simon went on to add: "Relieved to be out of that. Police checks just beyond narrow underpasses made tighter by presence of vans unnecessarily. Crowd very patient but was becoming tense. I was there two hours and twenty minutes before kick off, like a huge number of people. Only getting in now."

At 7.03pm, Rob Draper of the Mail gave his account, saying: "Sad to relate it’s chaos outside, police [funneling] fans into dangerously narrow routes - because their [vans] are parked blocking the pavement".

Two minutes later, he added: "The police are doing their best. They said they would call their cheif when explained how dangerous it was. But why are the approaching authorities never on the ground to sort issues? The guys there are helpless have no authority".

At 7.13pm, Adam Crafton of the Athletic gave his thoughts: "Now three finals in a year where there appear to be difficulties in ensuring fans safely enter stadiums. Circumstances very different at Wembley, in Cameroon and tonight in Paris but it feels like authorities/organisers treat these as one-offs rather than trends to learn from."

And at 7.23pm, Sky report Melissa Reddy tweeted: "Reports from those stuck outside the stadium - and footage feeding through as well - of poor organisation and communication, dangerously narrow routes with police vans further unnecessarily blocking space. All of it creating an uncomfortable, unwanted situation."

While at 6.53pm Get French Football News on Twitter cited RMC, with the following claim: "Major security issues ongoing at the Stade de France tonight - 100s of 'fans' without tickets have forced their way in."

Meanwhile, PA reporter Carl Markham gave an update suggesting Liverpool's team bus was still stuck in traffic outside the ground less than 90 minutes before the game was due to begin.

He wrote: "Not a great start for @LFC. Real Madrid already in the stadium. Madrid’s police escort seemed to work just fine. Don’t see many police in this picture".

The ECHO's Ian Doyle added: "It's actually stuck among people. Not very well organised for the #LFC team, whereas Real Madrid didn't seem to have many issues. They've been at the stadium a little while now".

The Reds coach is believed to have arrived at the ground just before 6.40pm.

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