Paris, May 30 (Representative) French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera on Monday said that large number of Liverpool fans who turned up without valid tickets were responsible for the Champions League final chaos. “What we really have to bear in mind is that what happened, first of all, was this mass gathering of the British supporters of the Liverpool club, without tickets, or with counterfeit tickets,” The Guardian quoted Oudea-Castera as saying to French radio.
“When there are that many people by the entrance to the stadium, there will be people trying to force their way in through the doors. Certain number of youths from the nearby area who were present tried to get in by mixing in with the crowd,” she added. Oudea-Castera will hold a meeting with police and soccer officials on Monday to discuss the ugly scenes at the Stade de France that marred the Champions League final. The UEFA Champions League final was delayed by over 35 minutes after Liverpool fans struggled to enter the stadium without tickets. As the spectators outside the stadium continued to build up after kick off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them away from the stadium.