PARIS (Agencies): 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.
MADRID: The 2021-22 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season was revealed on Tuesday as Real Madrid and Liverpool players dominated the best 11.
UEFA announced on its website that from Real Madrid, the 2022 champions, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, French forward Karim Benzema, and Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior are in the best starting 11 of Europe’s top-tier club tournament.
Champions League runners-up Liverpool’s English right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, Scottish left back Andy Robertson, and Brazilian midfielder Fabinho were also selected for the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.
Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday to win the 2022 Champions League title at Paris’ Stade de France. Record holders Real Madrid added the 14th Champions League trophy to their cabinet.
UEFA said the team was named by its Technical Observer Panel “based on performances in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League.”
UEFA Champions League team
of 2021-22 season
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Benzema named
player of season
The UEFA Technical Observer panel named Real Madrid’s French forward Benzema as the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.
The 34-year-old star scored 15 goals in 12 Champions League appearances to become this season’s top scorer.
UEFA added that Benzema’s teammate Vinicius Junior was selected as the Champions League Young Player of the Season.
Vinicius Junior, 21, scored the winning goal for Madrid in Saturday’s final against Liverpool.
This season, he played in 13 matches to score four Champions League goals.
