Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray at Liverpool supporters forced to endure long waits to get into the Champions League final amid logistical chaos on Saturday.

The start of the showpiece game of the European football season, in which Liverpool lost 1-0 to Real Madrid, was delayed for 37 minutes and kicked off as security was still struggling with the flow of frustrated supporters into the Stade de France.

UEFA claimed there were thousands of ticketless fans trying to gain access to the 80,000-plus capacity French national stadium but it did not identify where they were from.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin claimed stewards were assaulted by the supporters of the English side who forced entry without tickets or with counterfeit tickets.


Watch video: Riot police watch Liverpool fans during the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France on 28 May 2022 - Copyright AP Photo/Manu Fernandez via skysport news