BT Sport confirmed that tear gas was used on Liverpool fans outside the Stade de France as the Champions League final was delayed.
A lack of organisation meant there were shambolic scenes outside the stadium as Liverpool vs Real Madrid was put back by 36 minutes. Long queues formed and the Liverpool end was noticeably patchy less than half an hour before kick-off as supporters struggled to get in.
A few ticketless fans were seen trying to gain access to the Stade de France, despite a permanent fence being in place around the perimeter. The game was due to kick off at 8pm, but it has been delayed by 36 minutes with the match set to get underway at 8.36pm.
UEFA initially blamed fans for the delay but have backtracked as it's believed that supporters have turned up in plenty of time before the scheduled kick-off time. A spokesperson said: "For security reasons, the match has been delayed by 15 minutes".
Rio Ferdinand prayed for fans' safety hearing that tear gas was used on Liverpool fans: He said on BT Sport: "We pray for people's safety. You come to football to be entertained."
Michael Owen echoed those sentiments, adding: "It is so sad and obviously everything has to be military precision out there. We don't know what's gone on, but it is sad to hear. You just hope everyone is safe."
BBC Journalist Nick Parrott is outside the ground in a personal capacity and seaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "I have just been pepper-sprayed for the first time in my life. I have been to the Champions League final before and I have never been pepper-sprayed before.
"I was outside Gate Y which has been opening and closing repeatedly over the last hour and a half but nobody has been going through. The security staff on the other side advanced and sprayed pepper spray.
"I have seen 10 fans trying to climb over fences. Gate Z is open but there does not seem to be any movement going in. I have never seen this sort of chaos at any match I have been to in a personal capacity.
"The Liverpool fans are trying to move themselves back from these gates to try and get in but the authorities seem to be doing nothing. I came to get into the stadium at seven o'clock.
I got through the outer perimeter where there is crushing. I came round in good time and it was quite clear that we were not going to get in before nine o'clock."
