England let down by ‘horde of ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs’
Disorder at the Euro 2020 final has been described as a “national shame” ruined by a “horde of ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs” a report has found – and deaths and life-changing injuries were only narrowly avoided.
The report, published Friday by Lady Louise Casey, laid the blame for the disorder on 11 July with protagonists, but also criticised both the Football Association and police, who were too slow to act.
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More than 2,000 people gained access to Wembley without tickets as England played Italy, the 129-page review found, with 17 mass breaches of security. Only 400 of the invaders were ejected.
Casey said that officials did not properly recognise the significance of the match nor did they rigorously assess the risks.
While police were heavily criticised in the aftermath of the match, Casey did not call for significant institutional change, rather she made a number of key suggestions.
She wants a new class of fixture, one of “national significance”, which will demand a greater response from organisers.
Greater clarity on who is responsible for controlling crowds on Wembley Way, where tens of thousands gathered, drinking and taking drugs throughout the day.
And stiffer penalties for public disorder and a campaign to bring about a “sea change” in supporter behaviour.
“The Euro 2020 final was a potentially glorious national occasion that turned into a day of national shame,” Casey said.
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“Our team of role models were in our first major final for 55 years. However, they were let down by a horde of ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs who chose to abuse innocent, vulnerable, and disabled people, as well as police officers, volunteers and Wembley staff, creating an appalling scene of disorder and coming perilously close to putting lives at risk.”
The FA’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, apologised for the trauma experienced by real match-going fans on the day, thre Guardian reported.
The newspaper quoted him as saying: “We fully accept its findings and there are important learnings for us, as well as other agencies involved.
“The FA apologises for the terrible experience that many suffered within Wembley on what should have been a historic night for the game. 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.”
Read the review in full here.
