UCL final delayed amid crowd congestion outside

The Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris was delayed on Saturday with UEFA citing the “late arrival of fans at the stadium” for the decision to postpone the 9 p.m. CET kick-off time.

UEFA announced the delay at 8:46 p.m. CET before saying that a further announcement would be made within a maximum of 15 minutes. The final was then further delayed, until 9:36 p.m. CET, with UEFA citing “security reasons.”

Liverpool fans trying to get into the stadium for the Champions League final. pic.twitter.com/NLqws9qBrN

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Video footage on social media highlighted large crowds of supporters outside the Stade de France in the build-up to the game, with thousands of Liverpool fans unable to access the stadium, leaving vast swathes of their section empty less than half an hour before the fixture was due to start.

In contrast, the Real Madrid section was virtually full almost an hour before the game.

Sources have told ESPN that fans had been forced to wait outside as police attempted to control access to the stadium.

But with so many supporters still attempting to enter the stadium in the final moments before kick-off, UEFA announced the delay.