Sir Kenny Dalglish urged Liverpool fans to stay safe amid the chaotic scenes in Paris which marred the build-up to Saturday’s Champions League final in Paris.
Kick-off at the Stade de France was delayed by 30 minutes amid reports that thousands of Liverpool fans had been tear gassed by French police as they attempted to enter the stadium.
Dalglish, who laid a wreath prior to kick-off in memory of the victims of the Heysel disaster where 39 peopled died ahead of the 1985 European Cup final, tweeted from the stands urging supporters of the club to stay safe.
He said: ‘Kick-off delayed by 15 minutes. Stay safe everyone and if you know anybody waiting to get in, let them know that they have time.’
BT Sport presenter Jack Humphrey confirmed a section of Liverpool fans had been targeted by the Parisian police as they attempted to enter the 80,000 capacity arena.
Upon hearing the reports, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said: ‘You hope the police can control it in the right way. You want it to be a positive experience and to be talking about the action on the pitch.
‘You don’t want an unsavoury event. The traffic was horrendous on the way. Let’s hope everyone gets home safely.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if there were 60,000-80,000 Liverpool fans in Paris.’
The brother of Liverpool defender Joel Matip, Marvin, meanwhile, confirmed the horrific scenes which greeted fans upon their approach to the stadium.
He told German media: ‘The organisation around and in the stadium is unworthy of a Champions League final!
‘Using tear gas in areas with children and uninvolved fans is dangerous.’
Earlier, Liverpool’s team bus had been delayed en route to the match with heavy traffic and a lack of police escort ensuring Jurgen Klopp’s squad arrived almost an hour later than their Real Madrid counterparts.
BBC presenter Gary Lineker, too, had difficulties arriving in time for the game and lambasted UEFA who claimed the delay was the consequence of fans not allowing enough time to complete their journies.
He said: ‘Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage.
‘I’m not sure it’s possible to have a more poorly organised event if you tried. Absolutely shambolic and dangerous from UEFA.
‘They’ve just announced another 15 minute delay ‘because of the late arrival of fans’. Utter bullshit.’
More to follow…
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