UEFA announced this Tuesday that it “is investigating” the complaint filed by Inter Milan that says that hundreds of Italian fans were prevented from accessing Estádio do Dragão to watch the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.
In a written response sent to the Lusa agency, a source from the European football regulatory body referred “the responsibility for the safe management of spectators and the associated ticketing policy” to the organizer of the duel and the competent authorities.
“UEFA was informed that a large number of away supporters had purchased tickets to sections intended for fans of the home team. UEFA regulations stipulate that 5 per cent of the stadium’s capacity must be provided to the away team, in a segregated area for their supporters. Mitigation measures were discussed between the two clubs», added the body led by Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin.
At the end of Tuesday’s game, which ended goalless and led to FC Porto’s exit from the Champions League, Inter Milan’s managing director, Giuseppe Marotta, announced the filing of a complaint with UEFA, in statements reproduced on the platforms from the club.
«I would like to thank our supporters who were present [no Porto]. My thoughts are also with the countless fans who were unable to enter the stadium despite having purchased a legitimate ticket. We are going to make a complaint to UEFA and seek dialogue to understand what happened, because it is a serious matter », he stressed.
In the social networks, however, several videos are circulating of the agglomeration of supporters affections of Inter Milan in the accesses to Estádio do Dragão, in Porto, after allegedly having presented in their possession tickets for the zone destined to supporters of FC Porto.
In a statement, FC Porto had already warned on the eve of the game that, “for security reasons”, supporters of the visiting club would be denied entry with tickets that had not been purchased directly from Inter Milan.
“I saw some very angry children and families. It is something we very much regret and adds a bitter aftertaste to the evening. These things shouldn’t happen to any fan, as football should be about joy and union “, stressed Giuseppe Marotta, congratulating the footballers coached by Simone Inzhagi for their continuity in the Champions League.
