Security problems & fake tickets: Why Champions League final was delayed

The Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool had to be delayed by 36 minutes on Saturday due to security problems outside the stadium. 

Liverpool fans in particular were struggling to access the Stade de France which led UEFA to delay the start time, initially by 15 minute and later by over half an hour. 

"For security reasons, the UEFA Champions League final kick-off has been delayed by 30 minutes," the organisation said. 

Security problems around the ground, with some social media footage showing people climbing fences, were the cause of the delay. 

That was because there were huge queues outside the stadium. 

Around 40,000 fans of the Premier League club are thought to have travelled to the French capital, outnumbering their Madrid counterparts. 

Madrid are targeting their 14th European Cup and Liverpool are chasing No.7. It's a repeat of the 2018 final, which Madrid won. 

UEFA later claimed the problem around the Liverpool entry points had been down to fake tickets.

"In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles," a UEFA statement said.

"This created a build-up of fans trying to get in. As a result, the kick-off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with genuine tickets to gain access.

"As numbers outside the stadium continued to build up after kick off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them away from the stadium.

"UEFA is sympathetic to those affected by these events and will further review these matters urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation."

Various eyewitness reports suggested the problems were caused by the check points and the police as opposed to supporters.