Euro 2020: Wembley was broken into by FIVE THOUSAND hooligans for the final, ‘UEFA officials say’

A UEFA official has revealed that initial assessments state that a total of 5,000 hooligans broke into Wembley Stadium for the Euro 2020 final on Sunday. 

The showcase match was marred by ugly scenes of ticketless fans breaching security and forcing their way into the concourses and taking their spots among empty seats and corridors inside the ground. 

Now, freelance AIPS reporter Chris Williams has revealed that, having spoken to a UEFA events manager who was at Wembley on Sunday, an initial assessment is that the capacity – which was set at 60,000 – was over that by 5,000. 

However, that number could easily increase once a full investigation is completed. 

People were still able to gain access to the stadium through broken gates and turnstiles whilst the game was still being played in extra-time too. 

An initial statement on Sunday night insisted that there was just one singular incident – and added that no fans had breached security.   

Fans with tickets inside the ground who witnessed it tried to stop them from running into the stadium as the scenes turned violent and ugly

Around 5,000 ticketless hooligans stormed into Wembley for Sunday’s final against Italy

Football fans storm through security barriers as stewards desperately try to hold them back

Football fans storm through security barriers as stewards desperately try to hold them back

Football fans managed to force their way through just moments ahead of Sunday night's final

Football fans managed to force their way through just moments ahead of Sunday night’s final

Italy beat England in the final on penalties, but images and videos since shared on social media show violent incidents occurring both outside and inside the stadium as ticketless fans piled in. 

Some fans, who had tickets, tried to stop people running into the stadium as the scenes turned ugly.

More violent scenes in London‘s Leicester Square as well as Wembley before and after the penalty shoot-out defeat will also have damaged the nation’s chances of hosting the 2030 World Cup. 

Police made 86 arrests on Sunday, including 53 at Wembley, for a number of offences including public order offences, ABH, drunk and disorderly and criminal damage. 

A total of 19 officers received injuries.    

Watching aghast: A fan draped in England flag looks on as supporters with tickets brawl with the invaders

Watching aghast: A fan draped in England flag looks on as supporters with tickets brawl with the invaders

Fists fly: Ticketless fans got into altercations with others as they barged into the stadium

Fists fly: Ticketless fans got into altercations with others as they barged into the stadium

Meanwhile, F1 driver Lando Norris was ‘left shaken’ after he was mugged for his £40,000 watch after the final.  

Following the incident, a McLaren team spokesman said the 21-year-old was ‘understandably shaken’. 

The statement said: ‘McLaren Racing can confirm that Lando Norris was involved in an incident, after the Euro 2020 final match at Wembley, during which the watch he was wearing was taken.

‘Thankfully, Lando was unharmed but he is understandably shaken.

‘The team is supporting Lando and we are sure that racing fans will join us in wishing him all the best for the British Grand Prix this weekend.’

The statement added that no further comment would be made ‘as this is now a police matter.’ Sportsmail has contacted the Met Police for comment. 

F1 driver Lando Norris was also mugged for his £40,000 watch after leaving the stadium

F1 driver Lando Norris was also mugged for his £40,000 watch after leaving the stadium 

Thought your night watching the Euro final was bad? Ian Poulter reveals he was BLOCKED from entering Wembley until extra-time after ‘spending £100,000 on two tickets’ following mad 400-mile flight from finishing fourth at the Scottish Open hours before

Ian Poulter has revealed his mad dash from the Scottish Open on Sunday night to London to watch the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy

The English golf star had tickets for the Wembley showpiece but had to round off his effort to win the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick – nearly 400 miles away from where the match was taking place. 

A long delay due to torrential rain, thunder and lightning meant Poulter was nervously looking at the clock throughout his round, yet he still shot a magnificent 63 to take the clubhouse lead on 17 under par and get in real contention to win the tournament. 

But when Min Woo Lee posted a score of 18 under par, thereby ruling out Poulter’s chances of winning the Scottish Open, the Ryder Cup legend left the competition at around 6.30pm to get on a private jet. 

With a flight from Edinburgh to London taking around 1 hour 15 mins and the notorious traffic around Wembley still to negotiate, Poulter never had a chance of attending the full game. 

He made the match in time for the second half at around 9pm, but Wembley stadium staff would not let him in at first. He eventually got in to catch some of the second half and then watched extra-time and the penalty shootout that followed. 

Ian Poulter revealed he made a mad dash from the Scottish Open to Sunday's Euro 2020 final

Ian Poulter revealed he made a mad dash from the Scottish Open to Sunday’s Euro 2020 final

The English golfer had tickets in a box at Wembley but needed to rush in a 400-mile dash

The English golfer had tickets in a box at Wembley but needed to rush in a 400-mile dash

Poulter left the Renaissance Club at 6.30pm and appeared at Wembley nearly three hours later

Poulter left the Renaissance Club at 6.30pm and appeared at Wembley nearly three hours later

Poulter revealed that the delays ruined his chances of getting to London on time

Poulter revealed that the delays ruined his chances of getting to London on time

According to The Sun, Poulter had spent £50,000 each on the tickets for him and his son Luke to watch on in a Wembley box. The golfer earned £240,000 in prize money after his efforts at the Renaissance Club last week, finishing fourth behind Lee, who won a play-off against Thomas Detry and Matthew Fitzpatrick. 

Poulter said on Instagram: ‘What a crazy day. Tee off at 11.11 and shoot 8 Under par 63 to hold the Clubhouse Lead for a long time.

‘Weather delay keeps us from leaving the course and catching an all important flight to make the (England football) match.

‘Finally when play resumed and 1 player had posted -18 we left for the plane. @netjets did what they do best and got me to the stadium for the second half.

Poulter (left) finished on -17 in North Berwick but had to wait until others overtook him to leave

Poulter (left) finished on -17 in North Berwick but had to wait until others overtook him to leave

POULTER’S CRAZY DASH TO WEMBLEY

11.11am – Tees off final round at the Scottish Open.

3.25pm – Sets clubhouse lead.

4.30-6pm – Sits through storm delay.

6.30pm – Leaves the Renaissance Club, North Berwick, transfer to Edinburgh airport, then 1 hour 15 minute flight on a private jet to London.

9-9.30pm (approx) – Arrives at Wembley Stadium, denied entry by security staff. Eventually let in during second half. 

Total distance travelled is approximately 400 miles. 

‘@Euro2020 wouldn’t let me into the ground for a good chunk of the second half, not sure why. Anyway finally made it in to watch the remainder of the game.

‘Amazing experience with a few of us in a box and truly gutted for the lads to not finish it off in penalties. Finishing T4th at the @Scottish_Open and moving into the this week feeling good. Let’s go.’

Fitzpatrick had also hoped to complete his final 18 holes at the Scottish Open and still get to Wembley in time to watch the match with his brother Alex.

As it turned out, the joint third-round leader barely had enough time to complete the play-off and find the nearest television set in North Berwick before the big kick-off, with Lee sealing victory at 7.09pm – just 51 minutes before kick-off.

Poulter watched on as Gareth Southgate’s side failed to break Italy’s resilience in extra time, before going on to lose via the penalty shootout.

Jordan Pickford gave the Three Lions hope by saving from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho, but missed spot-kicks from Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka broke England’s hearts. 

The result means the Three Lions’ 55-year wait for a major trophy continues, but Poulter is looking to break England’s poor record at the Open Championship which has lasted a similar amount of time.