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Wembley security yesterday

Something I raised earlier in the tournament was the pathetic security arrangements. After the shambles of last night, quite frankly... we do not deserve to host a home tournament in this country  until the security at Wembley is giving a complete overhaul.

When we went to Russia, you had private security,  Fifa volunteers, the police and the military all carrying out proper ticket/person checks on everyone at certain checkpoints. It all went very quickly and without fuss.

The scenes yesterday at Wembley were truly ridiculous, from how easy it was for people to get into the stadium for free to random fights breaking out between stewards and fans. What's the point in collecting the caps now when you can just waltz in un-challenged? It was good to see some honest England fans challenging these free loaders but it shouldn't be their job.

The current security arrangements are not fit for purpose. Something needs to happen.

128 Replies

  • Peter Sherwood

    In reply to Matthew Isle:

    Quite, you could easily have faked both apps if you knew what you were doing and then you're left with the turnstile and a quick steam session. The checking for the final at the barrier section may as well have not happened, it wasn't checking anything as such.
  • Matthew Davys

    In reply to David Lilley:

    I could have sworn I saw an email from UEFA or the FA saying take a screen shot of the NHS app but for the life in me I can't find it now.

    In the end I had a screen shot of both NHS app to use just in case my signal went but I never needed it as my lateral flow test text worked every time and for the final I took a screenshot of my ticket which was easier to show stewards on entering the block.
  • Ian Dale

    In reply to Matthew Davys:

    UEFA have launched an investigation and FA have said there will be a review. Wonder if we will be allowed to give our testimonies.

    news.sky.com/.../uefa-to-investigate-fans-behaviour-inside-and-around-wembley-during-euro-2020-final-12355074
  • Peter John-Baptiste
    www.bbc.co.uk/.../57823364
  • Chris Power

    In reply to Ian Dale:

    Those in charge of Security are well and truly in the sh|t. And rightly so.
    We have a sizeable punishment coming our way.
  • Shaun Godman

    In reply to Peter John-Baptiste:

    I agree Peter that it’s more difficult to cordon off Wembley since all the flats etc. were built but they still couldn’t put other measures in place.

    1. Put an exclusion zone in place surrounding Wembley.
    2. Put a police checkpoint at Wembley tube and train stations. No match ticket, then back on the train you go.
    3. Do a letter drop to local residents prior to the start of the tournament informing them that if they do not show proof of address they will be turned away at the stations.
    4. Random police spot checks, no match ticket or proof of address then you’ll be escorted to the nearest station.

    Of course there are other methods to get to Wembley, but at least try and control the area around Wembley.

    The sad thing is, we shouldn’t have to treat people like it’s North Korea, but unfortunately if you don’t, you end up with what happened on Sunday.
  • Stephen Hesketh

    In reply to Chris Power:

    The security was useless for the SF and it was total chaos for the final. At the SF my wife and I had our seats taken by about 6 x 20 somethings, one of which told me”no one sits in their allocated seats it’s like an England away game mate”. I told him that this bloke does. They wouldn’t move and a big argument started. I was totally outnumbered but held my ground and shoved them onto the stairway (no stewards anywhere). Then they went in the row in front of me and two of them stood on the seats blocking our view. I eventually resolved the situation through more force, but it was risky and one stole my hat, then the stewards came and they disappeared like rats. Funny thing was, I saw the same lads at the final, this time at the turnstile and they looked like they were jibbing it. All very close to each other, whispering, plotting and positioning themselves to tailgate a genuine ticket holder. Then there was a phone that got snatched and a bit of panic arose and I lost track.

    Really depressing writing this so I’m just going to close with this. I had a great tournament and will never forget the brilliant atmosphere against the Germans, then the idiots arrived.
  • David Haines

    In reply to Peter John-Baptiste:

    " the FA is to conduct a full review after a "large number of drunken yobs" tried to force their way into Wembley without tickets."

    Some of the people getting in may have been drunken yobs but a large percentage of them were just people who knew that it was relatively easy to get in for nothing. There were two lads going through the first (and only) ticket check at the same time as me. They explained to the steward that they did have tickets but that the app was not working. The steward just waved them through without looking at their phones. I still don't know if the FA are aware of just how bad things were on Sunday.
  • Paul Jarvis
    going forward i think UEFA have a small question to answer,its been proved when we go abroad and we have to show ID to collect tickets etc etc there has been no trouble ( or very little ) the fact you can buy as general public and up to 4 tickets makes a mockery of the ticket process,add to that three tickets can be transferred to anyone is beyond belief,it would also stop touting.......its a shame it might have to come to this but i think UEFA should only give tickets to english based fans that are members of this club through the FA.....Im sure someone may have suggested it before but i can certainly see it happening again,especially as now every man and his dog will be chancing it at the turnstiles.
  • Lindsey Ramskill

    In reply to Graham Morrison:

    There’s wanting to watch the final and there’s acting like feral rats and causing untold harm and utter contempt to everyone around them …YOU get a grip!
  • Lauren Gresty
    I had a pretty grim experience at Gate A and B on Sunday and have sent an email to Wembley Stadium with ESTC CC'd containing the details, together with photos of the individuals who tailgated me and were then blocking disabled supporters on level 5 from viewing the match. The ESTC team are encouraging people to send in their emails, together with any footage, photos and seat coordinates and they are 100% investigating. Unfortunately, because the ESTC team is so small, I think this will take some time but the Wembley Stadium side of the business need to be held accountable. In a way we were lucky that the original capacity was only set at 65k...had it been 90k + that many ticket-less fans, the situation would have been a lot worse. If you want to email them the details are: help.wembleystadium.com/.../new
  • Oliver Pearman

    In reply to Lauren Gresty:

    The problem is that the ESTC can only do a small amount of things, like banning people from membership. It’s highly unlikely that any of the jibbers were members
  • Oliver Pearman
    Just read through this entire thread and some interesting points have been raised and comments made.

    I myself was on the inside of gate C when about 30 broke in the disabled entrance. There were a group of stewards trying to hold people back but to no avail, this is where some people inside took it upon themselves to self-police. Other footage I have seen online is split between some stewards trying their hardest to maintain order, and others just allowing things to happen.

    Wembley Way cannot be closed off. There are too many business on it now - including a Co-op and a Sainsbury’s - plenty of flats and even a hotel. Likewise, there is no reason to prevent anyone who didn’t have a match ticket from getting off the tube at Wembley Park or Wembley Central. Many people may have had bookings in pubs; some would have gone to watch matches with friends who live in the area. Others may have had no interest in football but visiting Wembley for other reasons. What about workers? There’s just so many reasons why making the tube stations match ticket holders only wouldn’t work.

    For those few of you who are second guessing attending again: I have been to almost every England match at Wembley since it reopened in 2007. The occurrences of Sunday are incredibly rare, and you can bet that, even if they aren’t identified, 100% of the jibbers won’t be anywhere near Wembley for the Autumn internationals against Andorra, Hungary and Albania. Please don’t let these scrotes put you off or put off your children from returning.

    But as for the idea that the scenes will play against England’s bid for hosting rights of future tournaments. Why? No one suggested France should be unable to host again after the scenes in Marseille 5 years ago. One bad event shouldn’t cast a cloud on the whole rest of the tournament, Wembley hosted 8 games and there was barely an issue mentioned in the previous 7
  • Ian Dale

    In reply to Oliver Pearman:

    I don't think you can compare this with Marseille. That was two sets of fans in one part of town that anyone could avoid easily. Very little to do with the tournament organisers. This was a near disaster - anarchy - in and around the stadium. Safety gone out the window. Families and disabled people suffering. Integrity of ticket sales completely undermined. Why would you award a tournament to a country where the police, the football authorities, private contractors and a large chunk of the local population delivered that **** show?

  • Graham Morrison

    In reply to Lindsey Ramskill:

    My statement was regarding the fact I don’t think it was the head of wembley stadiums security’s fault
    There would have been meetings at government level , high level UEFA and high level police deciding which way to handle the game
    The result being the head of wembley security was given the hand he was dealt , no discussion this is how we want it deal with it

    Rings true to me I don’t know about you
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