How can this be allowed to happen at a major European final?
There were some ugly scenes in London ahead of this evening's Euro 2020 final. A huge number of English supporters gathered at various locations around the capital, some of which descended into chaos.
Leicester Square seemed to see most of the trouble, with glass bottles being thrown and nearby buildings being vandalised.
Such incidents would soon begin to pop nearer to the venue of the final itself.
There were numerous reports of England fans attempting to barge their way into Wembley Stadium, rushing the on-site security in an attempt to gain entry into the ground without a ticket.
100’s rushing security… ffs pic.twitter.com/9nU2d0vb3U
— Ugo Monye (@ugomonye) July 11, 2021
While UEFA denied that any ticketless fans had managed to gain entry to the game, the reality seems to be far different.
A number of football journalists who are at Wembley have detailed chaotic scenes caused by supporters managing to enter the stadium without tickets.
That includes The Independent's Miguel Delaney, who said a number of entitled fans had their seats stolen.
England fans in the stadium telling me a lot have people have got in without tickets and trying to occupy seats. The official note earlier was that hasn't happened but many fans disputing it.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 11, 2021
Fans literally coming up to the press box telling us to report on the situation in the concourse. Can visibly see fans without seats - stewards looking at superiors asking “what can we do?”
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 11, 2021
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 11, 2021
In the above image, you can clearly see people standing in the aisles of the ground.
Melissa Reddy, also of The Independent, told a very similar story.
Steady flow of ticketless fans were still rushing into stands when the opener was scored. Aisles so full, stairs blocked and the disabled area in front of the press box is packed. Paying supporters pleading with helpless stewards to get them out. Kids scared, seats stolen. Unsafe
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) July 11, 2021
The disabled section of Wembley seemed to quickly fill up with those who clearly did not have tickets to sit elsewhere.
This is a mess - there are clearly ticketless fans coming into the stadium in front of me. Some trying to stand in the disabled section.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) July 11, 2021
Footage would soon emerge of fans rushing into the ground and assaulting a number of people already present. One man was knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly before stewards managed to intervene.
Unbelievable footage of violence in Wembley tonight. A literal child gets punched by a full grown man and an Asian man is kicked repeatedly in the head by several people. Disgusting behaviour. pic.twitter.com/NLtvjgF8Fe
— Kyle Glen (@KyleJGlen) July 11, 2021
It is genuinely disturbing to watch.
Another clip displayed similar scenes.
This is disgraceful. Twitter let’s find them #Euro2020Final pic.twitter.com/0mF6aYitCb
— Nadeem Ahmed 💙 (@Muqadaam) July 11, 2021
In all, the entire thing seemed like an absolute mess.
Febrile atmosphere at Wembley. This is near the main entrance to Club Wembley a few minutes ago where it looked like a group of fans broke through the security cordon. Stewards currently chasing people around. Not sure they’ll get all the way to the wine and canapés pic.twitter.com/YTIx8eQLz2
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) July 11, 2021
Wembley organisation all over the place. There are clearly many more people around where I am than there are seats. Still steady flow coming in from concourses. Some stairwells occupied. Many stewards bewildered. It's a stadium that usually runs well. But not today
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) July 11, 2021
Lack of security at Wembley is unbelievable. Fans have just rushed a disabled gate (D11) when it opened. No ticket checks until the turnstiles. Seen hundreds here without tickets trying to jib in. Remarkable contrast to security at La Cartuja in Seville.
— Richard Martin (@Rich9908) July 11, 2021
Estimated 200,000 fans in the Wembley area. Disabled areas in front of the press box now being invaded. Stewarding essentially non-existent.
— Oliver Brown (@oliverbrown_tel) July 11, 2021
A remarkable way to handle one of the biggest occasions in football.
This is the first major international tournament to take place on English soil since 1996 and it could be a while before we see another one considering the complete lack of organisation on this occasion.
They are hoping to launch a bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, something that is unlikely to be helped by these scenes this evening.
SEE ALSO: Even Richard Keys Has Had Enough Of Unruly England Fans
