Home / Sports / Questions over policing and World Cup bid after violent Wembley scenes

Questions over policing and World Cup bid after violent Wembley scenes

LONDON: England football chiefs and police on Monday faced questions over the chaotic and violent scenes around Wembley Stadium for Sunday’s Euro 2020 final, with concerns it could affect the country’s 2030 World Cup bid.

Police have launched an investigation to find the ticketless fans who stormed through security barriers and entered the stadium before the final, in which Italy beat England in a penalty shoot-out.

Stewards and riot police chased dozens of fans, who kicked down the security barrier before stampeding into an entrance and barging their way past other supporters, leading to violent scenes as some fought back.

Questions were raised about why so many fans without tickets had been allowed to congregate on the main thoroughfare to the famous ground, where the atmosphere became more hostile as kick-off approached.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it made 49 arrests, and that 19 officers were injured while managing the final.

“We made 49 arrests during the day for a variety of offences. We will have officers on hand throughout the night”, the Metropolitan Police said on Twitter.

 

A day of alcohol-fuelled festivities had begun with rowdy scenes in central London and tens of thousands made their way to the national stadium for the game, with flares being let off in railway stations and singing on trains.

Around two hours before the game, fans burst past stewards and some reached the concourse while bottles were thrown in from outside the perimeter.

Some security staff were attacked and entry to the stadium was halted for over 20 minutes while order was restored at the entrances.

Outside the ground, several thousand fans continued drinking and partying in the area immediately adjacent to the entry points with empty beer cans lining the street.

Police said they helped the security teams at the ground.

Wembley officials initially insisted no one without tickets had got inside, but the Metropolitan Police said a small number of ticketless fans had entered the 90,000-seat stadium, where capacity was supposed to be limited to a pandemic-restricted 67,000.

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham apologised to fans affected, telling the BBC that the security team had “never seen anything like it”.

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

England is bidding to host the 2030 World Cup, but Sunday’s scenes may have dealt those hopes a major blow.

“You can forget about the 2030 World Cup bid. Disgraceful,” tweeted broadcaster John Duggan.

 

Veteran reporter Henry Winter, chief sports writer for The Times newspaper, said that he had seen a Sky television presenter “subjected to horrendous abuse” and that the security cordon was too close to the stadium.

“It was clear from the section to the right of main press box that some ticketless got in. A surge arrived 15 mins before kickoff,” he explained.

“Some couples with tickets stood in aisles rather than argue with those who sat in their seats. Stewards overwhelmed.

“Thugs obviously and rightly condemned but Wembley security has to be better. The scenes, and the abuse of Italians and their anthem, is shaming and also a disaster for @FA 2030 World Cup bid.

“England may have gone out of two tournaments on one night,” he added.

Riot police were also required in central London, as large crowds attempted to push into a fanzone without tickets, while others clambered on buses and lampposts.

While there were some reports of vandalism after the game, the fans dispersed soon after the final whistle amid torrential rain.

Check Also

‘Olympic flame to burn near Louvre during Paris Games’

PARIS: The Olympic flame is set to burn in the Tuileries Garden in front of …