UEFA Champions League 2022 final kick-off, which was supposed to start at 8 pm UK time at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, has been delayed after ‘chaos’ outside the ground before the Liverpool vs Madrid match, media reports stated. 

“For security reasons, the UEFA Champions League final kick-off has been delayed by 15 minutes,” UEFA tweeted.

In a subsequent tweet, UEFA added, “A further delay has been announced to the kick-off of tonight’s Champions League final.”

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Shortly before 6.30 pm, Telegraph journalist Sam Wallace tweeted, “Chaos at the Stade de France on a big bottleneck on the ramp by gate U. Security guards overwhelmed and lots of fans shoved together. Very unpleasant experience.”

BBC Radio Five reported that fans were pepper sprayed outside the stadium.

The Assosicated Press reported that there were ‘sporadic instances of soccer fans, apparently without tickets, breaking through security and attempting to get into the stadium’. Two fans — one was wearing Liverpool attire — wrestled to the ground by stewards and bundled out of the gates.

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Another fan evaded stewards and was seen sprinting through the concourse and into the bottom level of the stadium.

Last year, such scenes and chaos was seen outside Wembley Stadium before the European Championship final last year between England and Italy.

The UEFA Champions League 2022 final kicked off on 3:30 p.m. ET/1:00 AM IST. Real Madrid started with Valverde, Benzema and Vinicius Jr at the attack while Liverpool with Salah, Mane and Diaz. 

Also read: Real Madrid vs Liverpool: 5 key tactical battles in UEFA Champions League final

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

Substitutes: Kelleher, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Tsimikas, Matip, Elliott.

Real Madrid (4-3-3) Courtois; Carvajal, Eder Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.

Substitutes: Lunin, Hazard, Nacho, Asensio, Marcelo, Lucas Vazquez, Bale, Dani Ceballos, Rodrygo, Camavinga, Isco, Mariano.

Referee Clement Turpin (France).