Euro 2020: FA launches independent review into ‘disgraceful’ fan/police clashes at Wembley final

The English Football Association has commissioned an independent review into what it terms “disgraceful scenes” at Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 final.

The match between England – playing in front of a home crowd and in their first major final for 55 years – and Italy was marred by ticketless supporters who gained entry to the stadium, clashing with stewards, police and fellow fans in the process.

The Metropolitan Police have issued an appeal for help identifying 10 men who they believe were involved with violence and disorder at England’s national stadium.

UEFA also opened a disciplinary investigation into events surrounding the match The FA was hit with four charges by UEFA relating to the invasion of the field by a spectator, throwing of objects by supporters, disturbances during the Italian anthem and the lighting of fireworks.

The FA has now confirmed a review will take place.

On Monday July 19, an FA spokesperson said: “We are determined to fully understand what happened outside and then inside Wembley Stadium at the UEFA EURO 2020 Final on Sunday 11 July 2021.

“We informed DCMS at the weekend that an independent review led by Baroness Casey of Blackstock has been commissioned to report on the facts and circumstances involved. It will speak to all parties concerned and include external experts.

“A key emphasis of the findings will be to ensure that lessons are learned and such disgraceful scenes are never able to be repeated. We continue to work with the relevant authorities in support of their efforts to identify those responsible and hold them to account.”

Last week, Julian Knight MP, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, wrote to Mark Bullingham, the FA’s CEO, to demand an explanation for the “shocking” scenes at Wembley.

In a letter to Bullingham  Knight wrote: “The scenes witnessed at Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 final were shocking.

“The sheer number of ticketless people breaching the temporary, and arguably insufficient, barriers and physically attacking stewards and police to force their way into the match was appalling.

“Reports across social media of unsafe numbers in the stalls and terrified children being intimidated by the intruders did not line up with the stadium’s statement that a small number of people had successfully entered the stadium without a ticket.

“In the FA’s statement on the matter, it stated that ‘security and stewarding numbers for the Euro 2020 final exceeded the requirements for the match and were greater than any other previous event’ at the venue. Clearly the numbers were still insufficient.”