The UK Government has urged UEFA to launch a 'formal investigation' into the chaos which took place ahead of the Champions League final in Paris on Saturday night.
Liverpool supporters were caught up in ugly scenes outside the Stade de France ahead of the game against Real Madrid. The Reds went on to lose the clash 1-0.
The kick-off for the game was delayed three times with thousands of seats empty in the Liverpool end of the ground. A UEFA message inside the stadium initially said the kick-off had been delayed due to the 'late arrival of fans at the stadium'.
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However, that slant was slammed by Reds supporters, who were also targeted with tear-gas by French Police, with many blaming the organisation from UEFA, and the police, as the reason behind the problems. Liverpool have already requested a 'formal investigation' over what supporters were subjected to before the match.
The ECHO understands that the club insists the UEFA message about late arrival of Liverpool fans is totally inaccurate. Security concerns were raised with UEFA on numerous occasions ahead of the match.
It is also understood that senior officials from Liverpool officially requested for the kick-off to be delayed after lobbying UEFA.
However, a UEFA statement released during the game in Paris, claimed that supporters who 'had purchased fake tickets' were the reason why there were problems and why French police were forced to use tear-gas.
And now Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has called on UEFA to look into the distressing scenes and has called for lessons to be learnt from it.
"The footage and accounts from Liverpool fans and the media on their entry to the Stade de France last night are deeply concerning,” a statement from Dorries read.
“Thousands of ticket holders travelled to Paris in good time to support their team in the biggest match of their season.
"I urge UEFA to launch a formal investigation into what went wrong and why, in coordination with stadium staff, the French Police, Federation Française de Football, Merseyside Police and Liverpool Football Club. It is in the interests of everyone involved to understand what happened and to learn lessons from these events."
While Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston confirmed the Government will be 'working with the appropriate authorities to find out what happened and why'.
He said: "We are very concerned about the upsetting scenes around the Stade de France last night and shall be working with the appropriate authorities to find out what happened and why."
Despite the claims from French Police, and the French Government, Merseyside Police, who had officers deployed in Paris to work in an observer and advisory capacity, said the majority of fans had behaved in an 'exemplary' manner.
"We know that people would have witnessed a lot of distressing scenes last night and we wish everyone returning home from Paris a safe journey,” Assistant Chief Constable Chris Green said.
“Our focus today will be supporting Liverpool city council with the policing of the homecoming parade."
