An independent report into England fan disorder at the Euro 2020 final has described the event as a “near miss” that could have led to deaths and life-changing injuries on a “day of national shame”.
The findings from Lady Louise Casey’s 129-page document were released on Friday and highlighted that 2,000 ticketless fans gained entry to Wembley for the final between England and Italy in July.
It underlined how there were 17 mass breaches of disabled access gates and emergency fire doors, and while the report primarily blamed “a horde of ticketless, drunken and drugged up thugs”, there was also blame for the FA and the police, who were slow to react to unfolding events.
Italy triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Three Lions but events away from the pitch and surrounding the stadium were described “an appalling scene of disorder.”
The review also proposed that an England victory would have created a “further huge public safety risk” with up to 6,000 people planning to storm the stadium at full-time to celebrate as the gates opened to allow ticket-holders to leave.
The 17 security breaches were when crowds charged through disabled entrances, with only 400 – less than a quarter – of ticketless fans who gained entry ejected by security.
Casey acknowledges how services had been depleted by the pandemic but officials did not recognise the significance of the match nor did they carry out due diligence on the potential risks.
The report demands a new level of event labelled “national significance” which would demand suitable resources and attention while also calling for great clarity over responsibility for security on Wembley Way, where many fans were openly consuming alcohol and taking drugs. (Mirror)