LONDON: London’s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday defended Sunday’s felony-tainted handling of euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium and said that the showpiece event may have been abandoned without his intervention.
Senior official Jane Connors said the Met had planned extensively for the match and had deployed specially trained public order officers who subdued ticketless supporters trying to enter the stadium.
“I do not accept that the police operation failed and I stand by the difficult decisions made by police officers and public order commanders of the Meteorological Department,” the deputy assistant commissioner said.
“Without their immediate intervention, it is possible that the game would have been abandoned.”
Met and under-pressure commissioner Cressida Dick were criticized for handling Sunday’s match.
England fans allegedly bribed stewards and forged tickets to enter the stadium, leading defender Harry Maguire to say his father was injured.
The Guardian newspaper quoted an anonymous supporter as saying that ticketless fans used the messaging app Telegram to share security breach advice before and during the disturbance, adding to the anecdotal evidence of a planned breach.
Maguire said his father had broken two ribs and had trouble breathing after being implicated in the incident.
Alan Maguire, 56, and Manchester United The player’s agent, Kenneth Shepherd, was trampled on by ticketless fans desperate to watch the game between England and Italy.
Maguire told British tabloid The Sun, “It wasn’t a good experience – it shook him. It was scary. I don’t want anyone to experience it in a football match.”
A 24-year-old man – identified by the pseudonym “Pablo” – told The Guardian that Telegram groups consisting of hundreds of people seeking tickets and assistance in breaching security, an estimated 5,000 people at Wembley illegally had entered.
He said fans bribed the stewards, some allegedly for only £20 ($28, 23 euros), and others faked tickets in his name by altering pictures of real tickets to gain entry.
The source said that around 300 supporters saw handicapped entrances when they were opened, with multiple reports stating that some fans left behind people with real tickets to pass through the turnstiles.
Alan Maguire, injured in the ensuing violent disorder, did not ask for medical treatment as England supporters overwhelmed security staff to enter the stadium and occupy the seats of the paying spectators.
Harry Maguire was quoted as saying, “My dad is a huge fan – he got hooked on it. He was having trouble breathing because of his ribs, but he’s not one of the big fussers.”
“He was lucky because he was one of my nephews or my kids in every game,” said the 28-year-old.
governing body of european football uefa On Tuesday, the Football Association of England was charged with objectionable scenes and will appoint an “ethics and disciplinary inspector” to investigate the incidents before the match.
Violations included fans cheering Italy’s national anthem, lighting fireworks, a mid-game pitch attack and supporters throwing objects.
Police made 86 arrests and injured 19 officers.
Police promised to investigate reports of racist abuse by three black England players who missed out on penalties, which in turn drew a flurry of support from fans.
A petition to permanently ban racists from football matches, created in response to the abuse, has garnered more than one million signatures in just two days.
Maguire condemned the unruly fan behavior at the match, leading to speculation that it could hurt a UK-Ireland joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup final.
He said the fans’ actions were “completely wrong” and added that his father would still go to the games, but would now be more aware.
“Things could have gone a lot worse but we have to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
Italy won the match 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time and won their first European Championship title since 1968.
Senior official Jane Connors said the Met had planned extensively for the match and had deployed specially trained public order officers who subdued ticketless supporters trying to enter the stadium.
“I do not accept that the police operation failed and I stand by the difficult decisions made by police officers and public order commanders of the Meteorological Department,” the deputy assistant commissioner said.
“Without their immediate intervention, it is possible that the game would have been abandoned.”
Met and under-pressure commissioner Cressida Dick were criticized for handling Sunday’s match.
England fans allegedly bribed stewards and forged tickets to enter the stadium, leading defender Harry Maguire to say his father was injured.
The Guardian newspaper quoted an anonymous supporter as saying that ticketless fans used the messaging app Telegram to share security breach advice before and during the disturbance, adding to the anecdotal evidence of a planned breach.
Maguire said his father had broken two ribs and had trouble breathing after being implicated in the incident.
Alan Maguire, 56, and Manchester United The player’s agent, Kenneth Shepherd, was trampled on by ticketless fans desperate to watch the game between England and Italy.
Maguire told British tabloid The Sun, “It wasn’t a good experience – it shook him. It was scary. I don’t want anyone to experience it in a football match.”
A 24-year-old man – identified by the pseudonym “Pablo” – told The Guardian that Telegram groups consisting of hundreds of people seeking tickets and assistance in breaching security, an estimated 5,000 people at Wembley illegally had entered.
He said fans bribed the stewards, some allegedly for only £20 ($28, 23 euros), and others faked tickets in his name by altering pictures of real tickets to gain entry.
The source said that around 300 supporters saw handicapped entrances when they were opened, with multiple reports stating that some fans left behind people with real tickets to pass through the turnstiles.
Alan Maguire, injured in the ensuing violent disorder, did not ask for medical treatment as England supporters overwhelmed security staff to enter the stadium and occupy the seats of the paying spectators.
Harry Maguire was quoted as saying, “My dad is a huge fan – he got hooked on it. He was having trouble breathing because of his ribs, but he’s not one of the big fussers.”
“He was lucky because he was one of my nephews or my kids in every game,” said the 28-year-old.
governing body of european football uefa On Tuesday, the Football Association of England was charged with objectionable scenes and will appoint an “ethics and disciplinary inspector” to investigate the incidents before the match.
Violations included fans cheering Italy’s national anthem, lighting fireworks, a mid-game pitch attack and supporters throwing objects.
Police made 86 arrests and injured 19 officers.
Police promised to investigate reports of racist abuse by three black England players who missed out on penalties, which in turn drew a flurry of support from fans.
A petition to permanently ban racists from football matches, created in response to the abuse, has garnered more than one million signatures in just two days.
Maguire condemned the unruly fan behavior at the match, leading to speculation that it could hurt a UK-Ireland joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup final.
He said the fans’ actions were “completely wrong” and added that his father would still go to the games, but would now be more aware.
“Things could have gone a lot worse but we have to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
Italy won the match 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time and won their first European Championship title since 1968.
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