LONDON: The hooligan violence which marred the Euro 2020 final both inside and outside Wembley Stadium will be subject to review by the Football Association, Wembley officials and police commanders.

Fans fought with stewards and police as they broke through gates, forced their way into supposedly social distanced seating and left a sea of tip-like debris strewn down Olympic Way..

Some people inside Wembley said there had been fans standing on the concourse for the entire first half, watching the match.

After the match, riot police could be seen breaking through crowds outside Wembley Stadium as fans departed.

Beer bottles were thrown amid chants against Italy. The Met Police said there had been 45 arrests by officers policing the final, with 19 officers injured “while they confronted volatile crowds”.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the “violent minority” who assaulted officers were not “true fans”.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham apologised to legitimate fans who were affected and said the security team had “never seen anything like it”.

The Metropolitan Police said it worked with security to prevent breaches.

Bullingham said: “There were a large number of drunken yobs trying to force their way in, we run a stadium not a fortress. “I have to apologise to any fans whose experience was affected and any of the team who had to cope with this.”

He said the FA would work with the police to ban anyone who had forced their way in and to prevent such an event happening again.

Downing Street has criticised those who stormed the stadium without tickets.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Those scenes were unacceptable and we condemn violence, anti-social behaviour and abuse in the strongest possible terms.”

Police initially denied anyone without a ticket had gained entry, saying there were “no security breaches by people without tickets”.

In a later statement, a stadium spokesperson said: “There was a breach of security and a small group of people got into the stadium.

“We are now working closely with stadium stewards and security to remove these people. Anyone inside the stadium without a ticket will be instantly ejected.”

A large crowd had also been trying to enter the fan zone in Trafalgar Square without tickets shortly before kick-off, the Met Police said.

Police said they had been “engaging with the crowd and telling them to disperse”.

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