Jurgen Klopp is partly to blame for the chaos that engulfed Saturday's Champions League final -according to France's interior minister - after encouraging Liverpool fans to flock to Paris whether they had tickets or not.
Chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France saw supporters with tickets having to wait in enormous queues, before French police sprayed tear gas at scores of peaceful fans - including women and children - waiting outside the gates.
French police however blamed Liverpool fans for the disruption before Gerald Darmanin sensationally claimed up to 70 per cent of tickets sold were fakes, and that between 30,000 and 40,000 English fans at the ground were carrying forgeries.
Before the final - Liverpool's first in the Champions League since they beat Tottenham in Madrid three years ago - the club's boss Klopp had said: 'I don't want to invite people to Paris but this time it is big enough.'
And speaking at a press conference at the French Ministry of Sport after crisis talks had been held between Emmanuel Macron's government, UEFA, the mayor of Paris and the French FA, Mr Darmanin laid part of the blame at Klopp's door, saying: 'It is only in football with certain English clubs that there are these problems.
'The presence of so many British fans without tickets already happened, notably in 2019 in Madrid. And it created similar types of difficulties. There were the same issues at Wembley last year [at the Euro 2020 final].
'The behaviour, the disorganisation and a huge market in fake tickets. And I remind you that the coach of Liverpool a few days ago called for fans to come to France even without tickets.
'And we found ourselves with tens and thousands of British fans of whom a part has fully respected and bought tickets or went to the dedicated fan zone.
'I remind you that there were tens of thousands of fans in the fan zone without problem. They have respected the rules. But there was a smaller but active part that clashed with our security system.'
The Reds were allocated less than 20,000 tickets in the 81,000 capacity Stade de France for the final.
In full, Klopp said about the lack of tickets before the completion of the Premier League season: 'It's the only bad thing about the journey. It's massive, what they ask for.
'I really hope they all can make it somehow and create - of course they will - an incredible atmosphere. It's nice.
'So if you don't get a ticket - I don't want to invite people to Paris but this time it is big enough. I did last time for Basel (the 2016 Europa League final) and the whole of Switzerland was like this (face palms) but I think Paris is big enough to go there without a ticket and have a good time. Behave yourself but be in the best possible mood.
'If you cannot go there, enjoy it here in any kind of surrounding. What I love about this game is that the world will be red or white. Everybody will be either/or and it makes it a proper final.'
But Mr Darmanin claimed 40,000 fake Champions League tickets circulating among Liverpool fans had caused dangerous crushes and long delays.
However Ronan Evain, head of the Football Supporters Europe association who was at the game, said claims of up to 40,000 fake tickets being in circulation are 'completely fanciful'. The bigger issue, he said, was a train strike that had shut one of the two lines leading to the stadium.
Pierre Barthelemy, a lawyer representing French Liverpool fans, agreed with Mr Evain's assessment - describing government figures as 'delusional', 'unsourced', and part of a political smear campaign against English fans which he said 'does not correspond to what everyone has seen.'
The British government also said it was 'hugely disappointed' by the way Liverpool fans were treated.
The French government's allegations stand at odds with accounts from Liverpool players, fans, police observers, lawyers and supporters' groups who say faulty turnstiles and heavy-handed policing created unnecessary and dangerous bottlenecks.
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said friends who he had given tickets to were turned away when the turnstiles failed to recognise their QR codes.
UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said in the aftermath of the chaos: 'The footage and accounts from Liverpool fans and the media on their entry to the Stade de France are deeply concerning. 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 Francaise 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.'
jackstance
1
keep Crying 😂🤣😆
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We are not, you are 😁
RAJANSHARMA
0
hello you Indian fool, you hypocrite scumbag
keep Crying 😂🤣😆
rizdeklos
1
do not push your country failures to a football manager
jackstance
1
Liverpool 😆😂🤣
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hello you Indian fool, you hypocrite scumbag
steevojox
0
Liverpool 😆😂🤣
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Jealousy
dopadinotu
1
Liverpool fans anything you tell them they will believe that's how they were celebrating false news that Aston Villa vs Man City was 3-3 at 85 minutes
Tuscenos
0
I think your Klop is a flop. How do you say something is wrong when a goalkeeper becomes MAN OF THE MATCH. Now I see why Liverpool did not win.
This post is about tickets. What's wrong with you?
taemnruyz
0
Wow the minister is quick to pass the buck, only if he knew how to do his job would be great.
Hinailmnot
0
Klopp thought they had won the game even before playing - as he always do. Let him learn that English football is no match to Spanish football
Wokabmnrtu
0
there is no way fans will travel all the way from England to your country and present fake ticket. ls he saying all the ticket sold in England are fake or what. They are not telling us the truth. may be they have sold the seats to other people who are willing to pay better.They should stop lying
deba_LFC
0
Liverpool fans are like drunk cows
we understand that ur level of critical thinking is actually at a new Borns state, it wud be a shame on us to expect u to understand politics like this! hopefully u can attain puberty before u r 90yrs
Zere8
0
if you have been to paris, you know the people there are lazy and first thing they will warn you is to becareful of street thieves..sum it all
Gozzy20
0
Did you honestly read any sense to what you typed? "They cannot defeat any team except for English teams" when Liverpool reached the finals. So you're telling me that the played English teams all throughout the UCL to get to the finals. According to what you just typed Liverpool beat only English teams to reach the finals of 3 UCL's( an European competition played by teams from different countries in Europe). What are you, stupid? :)
don't listen to this clown
Singapore1183229
1
Where did the fake tickets came from France or UK. Who made the most of the money. French and UFEA.. Who made the most money out of CL tournament English clubs. That is where the truth is.
Schlembeckler
2
Paris is the city of smelly armpits. What a bunch of tossers.
zincikls
0
I think your Klop is a flop. How do you say something is wrong when a goalkeeper becomes MAN OF THE MATCH. Now I see why Liverpool did not win.
Ceaemnoptz
0
Yes i think . But liverpool cannot defeat other team beside england. Just england media make themself overhype.
Did you honestly read any sense to what you typed? "They cannot defeat any team except for English teams" when Liverpool reached the finals. So you're telling me that the played English teams all throughout the UCL to get to the finals. According to what you just typed Liverpool beat only English teams to reach the finals of 3 UCL's( an European competition played by teams from different countries in Europe). What are you, stupid? :)
liulmnrsuz
0
people am asking how do you post a pic ,,, have been trying but nothing help me.
pouacmnptz
2
Did he tell them to come in without tickets?he invited them to the city
kaubipuz
0
That weak Tottenham team knocked out Man city didn't they?
Yes i think . But liverpool cannot defeat other team beside england. Just england media make themself overhype.
Ceaemnoptz
0
i think kop last time won champion league was with weak team Tottenham compared to liverpool. But they their fan thinks they are unbeatable lol
That weak Tottenham team knocked out Man city didn't they?
kaubipuz
0
Flopp will always remain small manager without money and hacking he’s nothing Didn’t win CL at Dortmund Because not money splash and couldn’t not hack due to less money
i think kop last time won champion league was with weak team Tottenham compared to liverpool. But they their fan thinks they are unbeatable lol
nuzklpsuy
2
I hate the French
blueLion01
2
Liverpool fans are like drunk cows
Butelntz
1
why
Echee27
1
AF should forget the story of champions league, champions league is gone and give us another interesting stories
Javimor
1
It’s Klopps fault
Ceaemnoptz
1
Flopp will always remain small manager without money and hacking he’s nothing Didn’t win CL at Dortmund Because not money splash and couldn’t not hack due to less money
do you read what you type before posting?
SHURIFUL
3
mo salah revenge
DanteZLfc
5
wait for an answer from Klopp .he will give you a hurting answer but it will be true
jouabdmot
0
Liverpool 😆😂🤣
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City expectation Champions league. Reality premier league. [mask]
Yihblprtu
1
Liverpool 😆😂🤣
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lol city forever yet so near but stil so far from it 🤣🤣🤣
ManCityFanForever
2
Flopp will always remain small manager without money and hacking he’s nothing Didn’t win CL at Dortmund Because not money splash and couldn’t not hack due to less money
yonkmoprsz
0
Klopp was a bit irresponsible there. You can't invite fans not having tickets.
RAJANSHARMA
7
Liverpool 😆😂🤣
Vetabciktu
3
f the French
RamVishesh
1
WTF man
RamVishesh
1
Wtf