London’s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday defended their handling of Sunday’s hooliganism-tainted Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium and sa...
London’s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday defended their handling of Sunday’s hooliganism-tainted Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium and said the showpiece event might have been abandoned without their intervention.
Senior officer Jane Connors said the Met had planned extensively for the match and deployed specially-trained public-order officers who subdued the ticketless supporters trying to enter the stadium.
“I do not accept the policing operation failed and I stand by the difficult decisions made by police officers and the Met’s public order commanders,” said the deputy assistant commissioner.
“Without their immediate intervention, it is possible this game could have been abandoned.”
The Met and under-pressure commissioner Cressida Dick have been criticised for their handling of Sunday’s match.
England fans allegedly bribed stewards and forged tickets to enter the stadium, causing chaos that defender Harry Maguire said had left his father injured.
The Guardian newspaper quoted an anonymous supporter as saying ticketless fans used the messaging app Telegram to share advice on breaching security before and during the disturbances, adding to anecdotal evidence of a planned breach.
Maguire said his father suffered two suspected broken ribs and struggled to breathe after being caught up in the incident.
Alan Maguire, 56, and the Manchester United player’s agent Kenneth Shepherd were trampled by ticketless fans desperate to watch the game...
