Champions League final chaos: French court launches investigation into counterfeit tickets

By Shweta Desai

PARIS (AA) - A French court has opened an investigation into an alleged counterfeit ticket fraud during the UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France last weekend, which was marred by chaotic scenes, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Bobigny public prosecutor's office, in charge of Seine-Saint-Denis where the Stade de France is located, has entrusted the investigation to the Sub-Directorate of Economic and Financial Affairs, a BFMTV broadcaster report said.

Earlier, Paris police chief Didier Lallement had written to the prosecution to investigate the “massive counterfeit ticket fraud” which he said was responsible for a huge crowd thronging outside the stadium and paralyzing the security system.

According to the sports and interior ministries, there were 30,000-40,000 British supporters of Liverpool football club without tickets or with fake tickets who tried to force their way into the stadium before the match.

The figures are disputed by the English as well as the French side, who hold the government responsible for crowd mismanagement.

The Bobigny court will also conduct a trial of six people who were arrested outside the stadium on charges of theft.