"Horrific" consequences if England won Euro 2020 final at Wembley
Ticketless fans were said to be stood like "zombies" waiting to get in
Last updated 21st Dec 2021
6,000 ticketless people might have stormed Wembley if England won the Euro 2020 final, an independent review has found.
The review, led by Baroness Casey of Blackstock, found that the chaos surrounding the match against Italy on July 11 caused "near-misses" that could have resulted in injuries or deaths.
It also said there'd been a collective failure to prepare for the worst-case scenario by all organisations involved in planning the final.
2,000 ticketless individuals made it into the stadium, with 400 of those being removed, but an England win could have escalated the issue much more, review contributors stated.
An official from the London emergency services said the aftermath of an England victory would have been "horrific" and that a major incident would've been declared at Wembley.
The official added: "I can guarantee that we would have been on our knees."
An FA official said some individuals were stood like "zombies" that were not even watching the game on their phones, waiting to get into the stadium.
Mass Wembley breaches "a source of national shame"
Those who did manage to get into Wembley gained access by tailgating or through one of the 17 mass breaches of disabled access gates and emergency fire doors, which "jeopardised the lives of legitimate supporters and staff".
Breaches were happening from 90 minutes before kick-off, right up to the penalty shoot-out, the review found.
Disabled supporters were particularly affected, while one individual impersonated a steward and separated a disabled child in a wheelchair from his father in an attempt to get in.
The review states that the agencies responsible for organising the match had been caught-off guard and that extra police were deployed too late.
"I am clear that we were close to fatalities and/or life-changing injuries for some, potentially many, in attendance," Baroness Casey concluded.
"That this should happen anywhere in 21st century Britain is a source of concern. That it should happen at our national stadium, and on the day of our biggest game of football for 55 years is a source of national shame."
No 'pressure valve' in form of fan zone
The review found that easing Covid-19 restrictions and England's first major final appearance since 1966 created the "perfect storm".
It also said that, despite multiple requests from the Met Police, the Government did not set up a fan zone that would have acted as a "much needed pressure valve".
Witnesses on the evening said there was widespread drug use among the fans, with cocaine being taken "in plain sight".
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham fully accepted the view findings, and apologised for the "terrible experience" some fans suffered inside Wembley.
"The review makes clear that the circumstances leading up to the match led to a perfect storm of lawlessness. No event is set up to deal with such disgraceful behaviour from thousands of ticketless fans. Collectively we must never allow this to happen again.
"The lessons learned from this Review will ensure that fans have a good experience at major international events at Wembley, as they have for many years."
UEFA has already placed sanctions on the FA in relation to the final, with supporters being banned from their next home UEFA fixture.