ACCRINGTON STANLEY manager John Coleman was "tear gassed and pepper sprayed" amid chaotic scenes ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League final tie with Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday.

Coleman, who has managed Stanley since 2014, was among a group of Liverpool supporters who struggled to access the Stade de France as hundreds were rejected over suspicions of fake tickets.

Stanley chairman Andy Holt took to social media this morning to say that Coleman's ticket was legitimate and he himself had got it for his manager.

Holt, who described the evening as a "debacle", said the evidence he had seen suggested Liverpool fans were being unfairly treated through no fault of their own.

He wrote: "I put it [an earlier tweet] out in support of Liverpool Football Club fans because many are automatically blaming them.

"The mountain of evidence I got said otherwise. Proper tickets didn’t work, never mind forgeries.

"Old chaps like Coley were pepper sprayed and tear gassed."

The UK Government has called for a full investigation into the treatment of English supporters in the French capital at the weekend, and also the handling of the event by local authorities.

There were reports that local gangs were attacking and mugging travelling fans to steal their tickets, using fake tickets and also breaking into the stadium.

The game's kick off had to be delayed by more than half an hour to allow fans who were stuck outside to make their way to their seats.

Coleman, 59, from Kirkby in Knowsley, Merseyside, led Stanley from Level Eight of the footballing pyramid to the professional ranks in League Two during his first 12 and a half year stint at Wham Stadium from 1999 to 2012, before returning in 2014 and getting the side promoted to League One in 2018, where they remain.

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