More than 60,000 English supporters invaded the streets of Paris for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on Saturday at 9 p.m. Many will support their team from a fan-zone developed in the east of the capital.
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The Burrows, father and son, took place on a public bench in the Vincennes course. This Parisian sidewalk will be their platform. In the long family history of travel across Europe, they sang to the glory of Liverpool’s “Reds” in the most legendary stadiums. “Tonight, we’ll see the match on a giant screen … it could be at home, but just to make this trip demonstrates our love for the club. And, all together, our strength.”
Bryan Burrows, 71, and his son David, 41, dark glasses and bob of rigor, are not alone on this Parisian sidewalk already bathed in lukewarm beer, 10 hours from the kick -off of the final of The Champions League between Real Madrid and Liverpool, Saturday May 28 (at 9 p.m.) at the Stade de France. A British Invasion blushes the streets of Paris.
Like most of their comrades, the burrows have lost the lottery. The one to dream of a place in the Dyonisian enclosure – only 12,000 tickets were offered to Liverpool supporters, and as much for those of their evening opponent. “But we did not wait to know if we would go to the stadium to organize the trip: we came anyway. We arrived on Wednesday, we went up at the top of the Eiffel Tower, we did a boat tour- fly … “
Like this father-son duo, more than 50,000 “Reds” supporters made the trip without a ticket for the match. A way to punctuate a season already crowned with two national cuts, where, even at home, in the Anfield stadium, the places are rare and expensive.
The party will therefore take place here, in a space enclosed by barriers, under the supervision of 6,800 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters mobilized for the occasion. As of Friday, a press release from the police prefecture set the rules of the game. Precise schedules for alcohol consumption, city districts to be avoided (the Champs-Elysées, in particular) … “Any gathering of a claim is prohibited”, indicates the document again. On this Saturday of the final, however, the claims of belonging to the Reds are sung at full lungs, carried on the shoulders, tattooed on the skin.
the appearance of a rock festival
Around this “fan zone”, which can officially accommodate 44,000 people, no Spanish in sight. Another more modest place of reception, and reserved for ticket holders, has been set up for Madrid, in Saint-Denis, not far from the stadium. In fact, no tenacious enmity is maintained by supporters of the two clubs, all used to the big finals.
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