UEFA has launched an investigation after Inter Milan fans who had tickets for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Porto were turned away.
Prior to the second leg of the last-16, video on social media showed long lines of spectators waiting to enter Estadio do Dragao.
Porto had earlier in the day stated that Inter fans with tickets for the home end, even if they were obtained through the club, would be turned away.
However, Inter asserts that a deal was reached for their supporters to attend the game as long as they wore neutral tones.
The investigation into the situation was confirmed on Wednesday by the governing body of European football, UEFA.
“UEFA had been made aware that a large contingent of visiting supporters had procured tickets in home sectors of the stadium,” a spokesperson said.
“The UEFA regulations stipulate that five per cent of the stadium capacity must be provided to the visiting team in a segregated area for their supporters.
“The responsibility for the safe and secure management of spectators and the associated ticketing policy are determined by the match organiser and the relevant authorities.
“Mitigation measures were discussed between both clubs. UEFA is currently looking into the matter.”
How good does it feel: waking up #UCL quarter-finalists 🙌 🖤💙#ForzaInter #PortoInter pic.twitter.com/Xq4RlziuOe
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 15, 2023
Inter claimed a goalless draw to advance through to the Champions League quarter-finals as 1-0 aggregate winners.
The Italian club’s chief executive Beppe Marotta dedicated the result to those who were unable to get into the ground.
“We celebrate this passage that Inter had not achieved for 12 years, we give the credit to our coach, our players and the fans who were present,” he told Sky Italia.
“I also want to spare a thought for circa a thousand fans who were left outside the stadium even after regularly purchasing a ticket.
“I saw footage of families who were locked outside, children crying who had flown here from Italy.
“Football must represent unity and joy, so this is a bitter page in what was otherwise a wonderful evening.
“We had met with the local authorities this morning and they assured us the fans would be allowed in even beyond those limits of the away section. Instead, this did not happen.
“These were for the most part families with children, who certainly weren’t here to perpetrate acts of violence, but to support their team.
“I don’t believe the situation was so serious as to ban their entry.
“We realise UEFA are not to blame, but we feel that with a formal complaint we can prevent this sort of thing ever happening again.”