Spanish police arrest three men for selling bogus UCL final tickets

Police in Spain have already arrested three people for trying to sell fake tickets for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham on Saturday night.

Officers spotted the trio of Italians outside the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid, carrying authentic seating plans.

They had 21 false tickets on them, together with 3,180 euros (£2,803) in cash and five envelopes with the letterhead of the Champions League.

One of the men tried to make his escape on foot but was intercepted.

The police were called to the stadium after several people went to the box office and reported seeing several men trying to sell tickets to the Champions League final.

'Officers went to the stadium and identified the trio from the descriptions given,' said a spokesman.

'One of the men tried to run way but was caught and arrested. Another tried to leave the area to get rid of five white envelopes with the emblem of the Champions League but was also stopped.'

Checks were made of the tickets, including cross-checking the QR codes which did not register, and all were found to be false.

All three men were arrested and taken to the National Police station.

Police are investigating where the tickets came from and if any were sold before they were detected.