Arsenal launch full review into Emirates Stadium chaos after taking ‘extensive steps’ to stop Cologne fans accessing home end

Fandemonium | Police guard the stadium entrances as the kick-off is delayed due to crowd safety issues
Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
Tom Dutton15 September 2017

Arsenal have launched a "full review" into the fan trouble which disrupted Thursday's Europa League match against Cologne.

The game was delayed by an hour after up to 20,000 visiting fans travelled to Emirates Stadium despite the Bundesliga club receiving a ticket allocation of just 3,000.

The Premier League club say "extensive steps" were taken to prevent Cologne fans acquiring tickets for the home sections, but many of the travelling supporters were seated alongside their Arsenal counterparts across all tiers of the ground.

A significant number of Cologne fans also got hold of tickets in Arsenal's executive seating for their side's first match in European competition for 25 years.

Visiting fans bought Arsenal scarves and changed their phone wallpapers to help disguise their club loyalty upon entry to the home section, and the Gunners have acted promptly to investigate the matter.

A statement on the club's website said: "Following last night's UEFA Europa League match with Cologne we would like to stress that fan safety was always our paramount concern and informed all decisions made.

"We worked in full consultation with police and UEFA officials on the night and in advance of the game and had taken extensive steps in advance to prevent tickets being sold to visiting supporters.

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Cologne | 14/09/17

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"This included a number of measures including ensuring no tickets were sold via general sale and that no red memberships purchased after the draw were able to be used to get tickets in the home end for this match. We also worked with our colleagues at Cologne to stop supporters travelling without match tickets.

"The 3,000 tickets issued to Cologne fans was in line with competition rules but it is clear many more visiting fans arrived, causing significant congestion and disturbance outside the stadium before kick-off. Many tickets were sold through touts and this is very disappointing.

"We have launched a full review into the circumstances surrounding the game and will ensure any lessons that can be learned are used in the future."