Questions to be requested after evening of Champions League Wembley chaos

Major questions over Wembley stadium’s security will be asked once again following a turbulent Champions League final that saw pitch invasions and 53 arrests.

Real Madrid claimed a record-extending 15th Champions League last night thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr as they defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in European club football’s annual flagship match, this year hosted in London. 

But the event was soured for some prior to kick-off when fans were seen charging towards the iconic stadium and attempting to enter via the ‘Club Wembley’ entrance, before being pushed back and turned away by security.

A series of pitch invaders then ran across the turf unchallenged in the early minutes of the match, forcing a halt in play. One of the people who ran on to the pitch stopped to take a selfie with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior in what appeared to be an online dare with a cash reward up for grabs.

Then, following the full-time whistle, exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline appeared to show fans streaming through a stadium side door as the trophy ceremony was well underway.

These lapses came despite a £5million ring of steel defence being put in place by the Football Association to avoid a repeat of England’s Euro 2020 day of shame.

That final – held in 2021 having been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic – saw ticketless fans storming the gates to gain access to the stadium.

Footage from outside Wembley tonight showed a group of men – many whose faces were hidden under hoods – attempting to rush the entrances of the stadium, in scenes reminiscent of the 2021 events, albeit not on the same scale.

Some could be seen actually getting inside the Club Wembley entrance as they broke past security, but were quickly turned around.

As well as this, the video outside the stadium shows what appears to be men fighting on the ground.

To combat this, police mounted on horses rushed in as reinforcements with riot police also seen marching down the street to regain control.

There were chaotic scenes inside the stadium, too, when shortly after kick-off, Wembley Stadium security staff had to jump into action to remove two pitch invaders.

Another person then ran onto field to the visible annoyance of some players. 

It took four security staff to apprehend the last invader, marking a shaky start to the night. Police later said five pitch invaders had been arrested.

It has since been revealed that the pitch invaders who stormed the Wembley turf were promised £300,000 by a controversial Russian streamer.

The troublemakers wore t-shirts promoting ‘Mellstroy’, a scandalous vlogger who offered the prize reward to anyone who would invade the pitch in his name. 

In 2020, the Moscow-based streamer really called Andrey Burim beat up a model and smashed her head on to a table during a YouTube livestream. 

Burim also grabbed the model, Alena Efremova, by the neck during a social media party livestreamed to his then-680,000 YouTube subscribers. 

The attack left a traumatised Efremova with blood pouring from her mouth as well as sustaining other facial injuries.

As Saturday’s match go up to full speed, it appeared the security issues had subsided.

However, following the conclusion of the game – which saw Real Madrid clinch the 2024 Champions League title – another video appeared to show a large group of people running inside the stadium through a side door.

The video, shot from a distance, showed the trophy lift on one of Wembley’s big screens as what looked like dozens of people entered via the entrance.

The people were able to run past two security guards in yellow bibs before the door is finally slammed shut and the crowd of people still outside dispersed.

It was not immediately clear who this group was, or what they did when they got inside the stadium. 

Before kick-off it was revealed that the Football Association had pumped £5million into the security operation at Wembley, with a ‘ring of steel’ involving thousands of stewards and enhanced ticket checks.

It was designed to be the largest security operation in the stadium’s history.

The idea was to avoid a repeat of the shameful scenes that marred the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy.

Wembley that night was a scene of drink and drug-fuelled chaos, with fans getting into fights and vandalising the surrounding area.

The previous two Champions League finals, in Paris and Istanbul, were also overshadowed by major logistical problems outside the stadiums leading to chaotic and dangerous scenes – something the FA had been desperate to avoid.

In Paris in 2022, crowd control descended into chaos at the Stade de France as a large build-up of fans were unable to gain access in time for kick-off.

Tonight, more than 2,500 security stewards have been deployed, the most Wembley has ever seen.

More than 2,000 police officers were also on duty on Saturday, policing protests as well as the Champions League final and related fan events, the Met Police said.

The £5million investment has been used to solidify the stadium’s security infrastructure, including the increasing the strength of all Wembley’s doors with additional magnetic lock systems to ensure there is no repeat of people successfully ripping them of their hinges. 

Additional fences and gates have been delivered throughout Wembley’s parameters, while the area underneath the iconic Olympic steps has been significantly bolstered since the Euros final. 

A significant part of the money has been spent on improving CCTV in and around Wembley, while a second security control room big enough to house around 18 officers has been opened with the specific remit of monitoring events outside the stadium’s perimeter, including tube stations and local pubs.

The FA have also invested in providing additional body cameras for event stewards.

One of the criticisms of the security operation for the Euro 2020 final was the apprehensive approach from sections of the stewarding staff that day, although many have since insisted they did not have the level of expertise to handle the sort of intoxicated fan that arrive at Wembley intent on causing trouble.

But the FA insist they have since improved their training and vetting strategies regarding steward selection for Wembley events.

There is also a sense that the selection pool of stewards for the Euros in 2020 was lower due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19. 

After video emerged online showing the chaos before the match, a Met Police spokesperson said: ‘We are confident that the overwhelming majority of attempts to unlawfully gain access to Wembley this evening were unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of officers, stewards and other stadium staff.

‘Officers have made 53 arrests at Wembley tonight – five for pitch invasion and the majority of others for attempts to breach security.

‘Major sporting events often attract attempts by those without tickets to bypass perimeter fencing or otherwise gain entry. There is a robust policing operation in place to support the Wembley security plan and officers have worked closely with stewards and stadium staff to maintain security throughout.

‘Videos shared online showing groups running into entrances do not necessarily represent successful attempts to enter the stadium. There are typically multiple further levels of security beyond an initial entrance.

‘Officers remain in the area outside the stadium and will be deal decisively with any criminality.’

The Met has not yet commented on the scenes after the final whistle.

Following the match, a white wall of Madrid fans at one end of the stadium serenaded their conquering heroes after goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior sealed the victory.

As for the football, a predictable result came in less than predictable circumstances after Dortmund dominated the chances in the first half.

‘It was a very difficult game, much more difficult than we had expected,’ Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the match.

‘We changed things because in the first half we were a bit lazy.’

Carvajal headed Madrid in front in the 74th minute and Vinicius doubled the Spanish giant’s lead nine minutes later.

Dortmund paid the price for not making the most of its first half superiority when Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pulled off a series of saves and Niclas Fullkrug hit the post. Madrid took full advantage after the break.

Carvajal met Kroos’ corner at the near post to power a header past Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel.

Jude Bellingham nearly doubled the lead moments later, but then turned provider when slipping in Vinicius. With just Kobel to beat, Vinicius fired his shot into the far corner and raced off in celebration.

Vinicius was dancing after his goal killed off Dortmund hopes of pulling off one of the biggest Champions League upsets in recent memory.

Only a combination of Courtois and the frame of the goal kept the scores level at the break after the keeper twice kept Karim Adeyemi from scoring and then watched as Fullkrug’s sliding effort came back off the post.

The break clearly helped Madrid and it slowly took control in the second half.

Carvajal’s goal came straight from the training ground, with the defender heading over from one corner before eventually converting. Then Vinicius put beyond doubt another Champions League triumph for Madrid.