PITCH IDIOTS
Champions League pitch invaders ‘were offered £300,000 each’ by vile Russian streamer to cause chaos at Wembley
But there could also be a different price to paid for flooding the field
PITCH INVADERS who halted the Champions League final will reportedly be paid £300,000 each by a controversial Russian streamer.
Real Madrid secured their 15th European trophy with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
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It came as more than 50 troublemakers were arrested after fans stormed Wembley and clashed with cops.
Trouble flared despite Wembley beefing up its security measures, with more than 2,500 security stewards deployed, the most Wembley has ever seen.
The breaches came despite the FA pumping £5million into the security operation around the stadium.
Pre-match preparations saw a 'ring of steel' involving thousands of stewards and enhanced ticket checks.
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Stadium bosses had announced their commitment to clamp down on "poor fan behaviour" ahead of Saturday's match.
But just a minute into the match, play was halted as three people flooded the field.
Security spent minutes chasing them before pinning them to the ground.
And one was even stopped by Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.
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The trio all wore shirts with the word ‘Mellstroy’ on the front and back.
It later transpired that he is a controversial Russian blogger and streamer, whose real name is Andrey Burim.
He was arrested in late 2020 for beating a model, Alena Efremova, on a live broadcast.
And before the game, he reportedly offered fans £300,000 to storm the Wembley pitch wearing his name on their clothing.
It means the three people who took to the field are in line for a major pay day, despite it not yet being confirmed if they will each bag £300k or share the fee between themselves.
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But they face lengthy stadium bans after being arrested.
A statement from Wembley officials read: “It is illegal to enter the field of play at Wembley.
Borussia Dortmund fans release flares during half-time of Champions League final in second Wembley security breach
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“We strongly condemn the actions of those who interrupted the Champions League final.
“All of the individuals have now been arrested.
“We will support the relevant authorities to ensure appropriate action is taken.”
Do you know more? Email us at [email protected], or call us on 020 7782 4100
As well, shocking footage hows a large group of people jumping over fences and pushing through ticket stalls at the iconic London stadium before the game.
But the off-field chaos came despite a £5million ring of steel defence which was put in place to avoid a repeat of England's Euro 2020 day of shame.
More than 2,000 police were out on duty to police the final but the force could still not contain the mayhem.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers had made 56 arrests at Wembley.
The force originally announced 53 arrests but in an update on Sunday the Met said the total had gone up slightly, with the vast majority remaining in custody.
Most of the arrests were made for attempts to breach security but five were made after people got on to the grass.
Cops said they were confident that the "overwhelming majority of attempts" to get into Wembley on Saturday night were "unsuccessful".
Footage shows a group of hooded men attempting to rush the entrances of the stadium.
Some can be seen actually getting inside the Club Wembley entrance as they break past security.
Other footage, published by , shows tens of fans entering through a side door of the stadium following the end of the game.
As well as this, the video outside the stadium shows what appears to be fans fighting on the ground.
Officers on horseback and riot police also seen marching down the street rushed in to restore order.
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More than 2,500 security stewards were deployed, the most Wembley has ever seen.
The investment has been used to solidify the stadium's security infrastructure, including increasing the strength of all Wembley's doors with additional magnetic lock systems to ensure there is no repeat of people successfully ripping them off their hinges.
Additional fences and gates have been delivered throughout Wembley's parameters, while the area underneath the iconic Olympic steps has been significantly bolstered since the Euros final.
A significant part of the money has been spent on improving CCTV in and around Wembley, while a second security control room big enough to house around 18 officers has been opened with the specific remit of monitoring events outside the stadium's perimeter, including tube stations and local pubs.
The FA has also invested in providing additional body cameras for event stewards.
The Metropolitan Police said: "We are confident that the overwhelming majority of attempts to unlawfully gain access to Wembley this evening were unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of officers, stewards and other stadium staff.
"Officers have made 53 arrests at Wembley - five for pitch invasion and the majority of others for attempts to breach security.
"There is a robust policing operation in place to support the Wembley security plan and officers have worked closely with stewards and stadium staff to maintain security throughout.
"Videos shared online showing groups running into entrances do not necessarily represent successful attempts to enter the stadium.
"There are typically multiple further levels of security beyond an initial entrance.
"Officers remain in the area outside the stadium and will deal decisively with any criminality."
As for the game itself, Dortmund had plenty of chances to go ahead as Real struggled on the ball.
The Germans were close several times as Jadon Sancho and Co ran riot on the wings.
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But the game changed late on as Dortmund conceded several corners.
And one of those was eventually turned in by Real veteran Carvajal.
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A disastrous error then allowed Vinicius Jr to slot home a second goal for the Spaniards.
And it secured Real’s 15th Champions League trophy, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men also winning LaLiga this season.
Bellingham outshines Sancho on the night of his dreams at Wembley
THE very moment Vinicius Junior struck the second goal, Jude Bellingham sank to his knees, stretched out his arms and looked up at the sky, writes Charlie Wyett.
It was the moment that Bellingham had always dreamed of, to win the Champions League. The fact it came at Wembley, on home soil, made it that little sweeter.
Bellingham delivered the pass to Vinicius who scored to ensure that Real Madrid, remarkably, have now been the kings of Europe on 15 occasions.
It was the final kick of the biggest game in Bellingham’s life as he was immediately replaced by Joselu in a tactical switch by Carlo Ancelotti.
With no Premier League teams involved, this was an English duel between Bellingham and Jadon Sancho. The west midlands v south London. Stourbridge versus Kennington.
It is obvious which of the two former team-mates won this scrap, although Sancho’s team should have put Real out of sight by half-time.
Ultimately, neither Englishmen had particularly dazzling games.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, started brightly and gave Real left-back Ferland Mendy a few uneasy moments.
Yet this was nothing like the performances he delivered against PSG to help his team to the final.
Instead, with three minutes remaining of normal time, Sancho was replaced by another Englishman, teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
There was to be no drama. Bellingham added this Euro title to his La Liga winner’s medal. Not forgetting he has also been voted as the La Liga player of the year.
Bellingham, featuring in his 42nd game of the season for Real, was unable to make much of an impact in his role wide left.
On the hour mark, he had touched the ball 35 times but had done little with it.
With the scores at 0-0, he somehow failed to score with a header when he was unable to make contact with a cross from Vinicius. Any touch and it would have been a goal.
By then, the keyboard warriors were out in force on social media, dishing out some laughable criticism of England's greatest talent. Potentially, our greatest ever player.
Yet the inevitable happened and Dortmund were left to curse those missed chances.
A mistake by Sancho led to a Madrid corner and Dani Carvajal leapt highest to head them into the lead.
Bellingham had another chance but it was deflected wide by Nico Schlotterbeck.
But, with seven minutes left, he helped stick the knife in to help Vinicius score and ensure this is an evening he will never forget.
In the crowd were his dad Mark, mum Denise and brother Jobe, who got into the stadium five hours early
Bellingham’s mum was in tears as her son stepped up to get his medal. And let’s all hope Bellingham will be lifting another trophy in Berlin on July 14.
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