The atmosphere around Wembley, where the Euro final between Italy and England is to take place on Sunday, grew tense as the kick-off approached (9:00 p.m.) with throws of projectiles and supporters without tickets that forced barriers to get closer to the stadium.
Several tens of thousands of English supporters have gathered around the stadium since the morning and some, tipsy, began to throw stones, beer cans, backpacks or traffic cones at passers-by, noted a AFP journalist.
Supporters without tickets forcing the passage?
According to images posted on social media, dozens of ticketless supporters also knocked down barriers and overwhelmed security personnel to enter the close perimeter of the stadium.
The company that runs Wembley Stadium confirmed in a statement that it "was facing an incident which took place in the outer perimeter of the stadium" and had received police support.
"Security measures were quickly activated in the areas concerned and there are no people without tickets who have entered the stadium," she said.
The London police for their part confirmed that they had "given their support to the security teams of Wembley".
"The Wembley teams have confirmed that there are no safety issues with people without tickets in the stadiums."
Three Italian supporters taken to task
Before these excesses, three Italian supporters were also taken to task by angry English supporters, noted an AFP journalist.
Most of the Italian fans who have a ticket to watch the final quickly made their way to the stadium and their seats, and the pedestrian pathways to the stadium are littered with rubbish and broken bottles.
On Twitter, London police asked supporters not to come to Wembley if they didn't have tickets because "the area is extremely busy".
"We have agents on site to deal with the crowds and ensure the safety of people," she said.
An AFP journalist also noted that trains full of supporters were leaving Wembley for central London, presumably in order to follow the match in front of television screens.
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