Thread by @Misterdools

My Champions League Final experience...I've found it quite difficult to write but it's important to share with other fans... #UCLfinal #YNWA #Liverpool

I purchased my ticket via Liverpool FC – It cost £125.79 – It never left my possession on the day of the match. It was checked once on entry to the stadium.

Left Antony RER at 17:50 to the Stade de France. Planned to take RER B line all the way to La Plaine - Stade De France, when we heard there was a strike and trains would terminate at Gare Du Nord. So, we chose an alternative station, Stade de France - St Denis

Changed at Gare du Nord and took the RER D line to Stade de France - St Denis. Arrived at 18:45. Liverpool fans in good spirits and singing as they walk away from the station toward the Stade de France.

Poor signage from the station to the stadium. Walked along Av. des Fruitiers turned right onto Rue Jean-Philippe Rameau. 2 riot vans at end of the road meant fans had to turn left or right. Fans held and released every 5 minutes or so. We turned right onto Av. du Président Wilson

Followed along Av. du Président Wilson to end of road turned left, crossing above the A1, then left again walking parallel alongside Av. du Président Wilson. As the Liverpool fans were walking up, the crowds grew till eventually it changed to a shuffling pace.

We slowly walked towards an underpass approx 20m wide with very limited space due to riot vans flanking on the right-hand side. Police officers inside the vans laughed as fans passed. Fans tightly packed together, very hot and could feel the breath of the person who was directly

behind me. There was a young girl, approximately 13/14 years old who was clinging on her dad’s shirt. She was getting further and further away so I stopped to let her get close to her dad again.

Some smaller children were put on the shoulders of parents. One fan said he was desperate for the toilet and he thought he might have an accident. He joked that he might need the Liverpool Echo.

The underpass was about 70m in length, it seemed to take an age to walk along from the start to the end. The sun was bright and ahead there seemed to be strange view of the fans stopping, a big space would develop and a rush of fans towards a slopped area. (Photo taken at 19:54)

Heading up the slope to concourse area. No ticket check has taken place. The ticket check area had been abandoned, stewards and police were now moved over to the right-hand side of the pavement towards the slope wall, metal barriers used to funnel fans along were still present,

causing a further bottleneck, as you would see them until you were right on top of them. (Photo taken at 20:05)

Continued to walk towards the stadium concourse area via a slope, arrived onto the concourse area– Noticeable lack of stewards and police, limited signage around the ground. Crowds were already slowing and noticed that people were not moving through the turnstiles.

Metal barriers directed fans towards the gate entrances. Stewards and police were contained on the inside of the stadium fencing. (Photos taken at 20:12)

Arrived at the queue for Gate Z, joined the back of the tightly packed line. Difficult to know whether we would get inside the stadium in time for kick off. No announcements made. Stewards and police looked like they had lost control of the situation.

Liverpool fans asking why the turnstiles aren’t open, ignored by the stewards and police. Liverpool fans remained calm and were patient. The occasional person would attempt to climb the 12 foot spiked fencing. What was noticeable were they were all local, not wearing club

colours and were shouted down by the Liverpool fans. Turned around and people tightly packed together behind me, hard to move around. Some crushing, people are looking scared and anxious. Media vans situation on the far side of the concourse area become makeshift areas for

respite, people climbing up on top of the vehicles to escape the crush, assisting others who look scared or need assistance. Fans trying to alert the media as to what was happening. Some shouting at the police to ease the pressure building outside the turnstiles and to open up

to assist what was happening. People were policing themselves. (Photo taken at 20:18)

As kick off approached, we hadn’t moved at all in the 30 minutes we had been stood there. Turnstiles remained shut, so decided to leave the line at 20:45 and walk around the stadium to check out what was happening at other access points.

We got out of the queue and move along to Gate A, one small turnstile was open but not letting people through. Gate opened briefly to throw out a local youth, this caused panic because fans thought the turnstiles were opening and a rush started. Local youths attempted to gain

access on mass at this point. They were clearly organised and working in groups to do this. Some criminality going on pickpockets stealing phones and wallets. It became quite frightening. We now moved towards Gate B, still long queues, so would try Gate C.

The time now was approximately 21:00, we had resigned ourselves that we’d miss the start of the game. Still no announcements to the waiting fans.Moved to Gate C, lots of local youths trying to get in by bunking. Lots of pushing and shoving.

Children with adults (Liverpool fans) trying to protect them. When John (mate) and I got to the front of the queue our tickets wouldn’t scan and kept coming up red on the electronic QR code reader because it was the wrong gate access point.

We explained that they were genuine tickets and asked to be let in. The steward said OK and allowed us to climb over the turnstile barrier. We jogged around the empty concourse area back towards Z12. We came to a metal fence that had a line of stewards, we explained what happened

and they allowed us to go through to our section. We got in the stadium and people were telling us not to worry because the game had been delayed for 15 mins. We were exhausted and got a drink of water. I took at photo from my seat at 21:07 when we were finally there.

It was noticeable that the Liverpool end had huge gaps and empty seats.

When we left the ground immediately after the final whistle, we left via Gate A, we were funnelled down Av du Stade de France under an underpass (A86). Riot vans and riot police lined both sides. Police held back crowd for five mins at a time and allowed fans to board trains to

Gare du Nord. All trains terminated there to allow to get more fans away from this area. It was quite moody and the police had full riot gear with visors down, batons drawn and shield up, pushing people back. It was ready to kick off. The police allowed the next group of fans

through. As we were walking down groups of local youths were rushing fans, pushing and attacking people and robbing items including phones and wallets. This continued into the station. Saw one old fella get rushed and his wallet robbed. They just disappeared into the crowd.

Quickly they all started to get shouted out, people pointing them out and some getting the odd punch or kick. This didn’t deter them too much. The police just watched and didn’t intervene.

At Gare du Nord this continued further. One fella was slashed on his neck and another had his phone stolen while holding it in his hand. Again, the police stood by and didn’t do anything. Gradually groups of Liverpool supporters started to go their separate ways. We changed over

to our line and went on RER B towards Orly airport (Antony). No further issues on the last train towards the airport. Got back to hotel in Rungis at 01:30.