5,000 tickets-less fans have reportedly burst into Wembley for Euro 2020 final

More than 5,000 ticket-less fans gained access to the Euro 2020 England-Italy final last weekend, according to a UEFA events manager at the match.

It was a huge disruption of public order, a potential terrorist threat and a serious health risk with strict coronavirus protocols being ignored.

A separate UEFA source told The Mail on Sunday that the estimate of ticketless fans is “in four digits”, with FA chiefs due to provide answers to Parliament this week. The Digital Culture Media and Sports Committee has demanded a response from FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.

Security barriers were compromised after a wave of thugs broke into the national stadium

The FA said it would conduct a full review and investigation together with police, the Greater London Authority, the Safety Advisory Group and tournament delivery stakeholders.

The UEFA manager described how “at one point, two hours before kick-off, we expect for each ticket holder, three more were granted access for an extended period” with disabled access to the gate C among those who have been forced.

However, at UEFA, the governing body of European football, it is understood that any damage to a potential UK and Republic of Ireland bid for the 2030 World Cup will be minimal. Credit obtained by the government and Prime Minister Boris Johnson to prevent the separatist European Super League will protect the UK from any long-term harm. UEFA confirmed last week that Wembley will host the 2024 Champions League final.

Using TV footage, eyewitness accounts from UEFA and videos on social media, the UEFA events manager, who spoke to The Mail on Sunday, estimated that 5,000 people from more than the 65,000 people allocated had access to the stadium.

UEFA has opened investigation as FA responds to parliament next week

At one point, three thugs without a ticket entered for every paying supporter. Witnesses spoke of drug trafficking, drug use, drunken and aggressive behavior in the capital

This could increase when UEFA’s ethics and discipline inspectors complete their investigations. The events manager, who was not working in an official capacity on Sunday but attended the match, said: “At one point, two hours before kick-off, we expect for each ticket holder, three more had access for an extended period.

“Our demands are that supporters be screened as early as possible, in order to separate the real ticket holders from the fans who just want to be part of the atmosphere.

“For the big finals, we normally expect between five and eight percent of the supporters over all allocation to travel to the outside area of ​​the stadium. This normally disperses before kick-off, as fans search for local bars, restaurants or fan parks to watch the game. It did not happen here.

However, Sunday’s events are unlikely to harm Britain and Ireland’s bid for the 2030 World Cup, with UEFA crediting Boris Johnson for helping stop the creation of the European Super League.

Staff were “overwhelmed” and authorities estimate that as many as 200,000 people were in the Wembley area. The Metropolitan Police, responsible for public order outside the stadium, denied having failed in this task, although witnesses spoke of drug trafficking, drug use, drunken and aggressive behavior, as well as male supporters urinating in the streets.

The stadium perimeter and internal security are the responsibility of the FA. Those without tickets made their way through the turnstiles due to their large numbers and ‘tracking’ of actual ticket holders – sneaking through electronic turnstiles behind paying customers, who were threatened. not to attract attention.

The UEFA source added. “From my position, the lower northwestern and northeastern regions showed the greatest sign of an outbreak. The entry and exit routes were indistinguishable from the seating areas. Even in overtime, I saw fans enter through unmanned turnstiles.