The Football Association (FA) will conduct a full review after a “large number of drunken yobs” tried to force their way in to Wembley without tickets before the Euro 2020 final.
Fans fought with stewards and police as they attempted to interrupt through gates.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham apologised to legitimate fans who were affected and said the safety team had “never seen anything like it”.
The Metropolitan Police said it worked with security to stop breaches.
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Mr Bullingham said he wasn’t sure those that broke in were real fans.
“There were an outsized number of drunken yobs trying to force their way in, we run a stadium not a fortress,” he said.
“I need to apologise to any fans whose experience was affected and any of the team who had to deal with this.”
He said the FA would work with the police to ban anyone who had forced their way in and to stop such an occasion happening again.
Downing Street has criticised those that stormed the stadium without tickets.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Those scenes were unacceptable and that we condemn violence, anti-social behaviour and abuse within the strongest possible terms.”
Lis Nixon, 62, from Oxfordshire, who was at the match, said it had been “horrible” and “put you off going”.
She said she was pushed and crushed while queuing to urge into the stadium and said once inside, there have been large numbers of ticketless fans in rows and blocking exits with some people so drunk that they had fallen to the bottom and were just left there.
She said the stewards were “overwhelmed” and had “lost control” of things .
Italy supporter Roberta Cuppari said she and her friend had to observe the match crushed during a corner while being sworn at and abused after ticketless fans took their seats and refused to maneuver .
“It was the worst thing I even have ever seen,” said the 38-year-old mother-of-three. “There were people urinating, people doing drugs.”
She said people had pushed through behind them at the doorway , refusing to point out their tickets or proof of Covid tests but security had not done anything, even when she had involved help.
Ms Cuppari, from Weybridge, Surrey, said it had been unsafe and she or he was glad to not have brought her seven-year-old son, who would are “put off football for life”.
A Football Association spokesperson initially denied anyone without a ticket had gained entry, saying there have been “no security breaches of individuals without tickets getting inside the stadium”.
In a later statement, a stadium spokesperson said: “There was a breach of security and alittle group of individuals got into the stadium.
“We are now working closely with stadium stewards and security to get rid of these people. Anyone inside the stadium without a ticket are going to be instantly ejected.”
Former footballer Dominic Matteo said he had decided to not enter Wembley, despite having a ticket for the match, due to concerns for safety having had health issues in recent years.
He said he felt pitying the stewards who weren’t equipped to affect things with people “running in from all different angles just up to no good”.
“It was very scary. I’m 47 years old, I’m a man, I can take care of myself, but it felt very intimidating and them people trying to urge in, they came through the disabled entrance, which is scandalous,” he said.
A large crowd had also been trying to enter the fan zone in Trafalgar Square without tickets shortly before kick-off, the Met Police said.
Police said that they had been “engaging with the gang and telling them to disperse”.
Some people inside Wembley said there had been fans standing on the concourse for the whole half , watching the match.
After the match, riot police might be seen breaking through crowds outside Wembley Stadium as fans departed.
Beer bottles were thrown amid chants against Italy. The Met Police said there had been 45 arrests by officers policing the ultimate , with 19 officers injured “while they confronted volatile crowds”.
Police forces across the country said that they had been called to 875 incidents concerning the match – quite double the amount during any previous football tournament. there have been 246 arrests.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the “violent minority” who assaulted officers weren’t “true fans”.
The FA, prime minister and Duke of Cambridge have also condemned the racist abuse aimed toward penalty-takers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka.
The UK Football Policing Unit said it had launched an investigation to spot those posting racist abuse on social media.
‘Inevitably things boiled over’
The unsavoury scenes at Wembley before and through England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy were the results of an uneasy, threatening undercurrent of tension that had been build up throughout the day.
Several hours before kick-off, thousands of fans, many fuelled by alcohol, were packed into areas round the stadium in an increasingly frenzied atmosphere that always threatened to urge out of hand.
Security was ineffective and it’s rare at a serious final for supporters to be ready to get so on the brink of the stadium without tickets. i used to be offered money for my accreditation lanyard just yards from the media entrance – unthinkable at any such showpiece event I even have previously attended.
Inevitably, things boiled over into the frightening sight of barriers being stormed by many ticketless fans wanting to get inside Wembley, with children left terrified, others knocked to the bottom , aisles full and therefore the area reserved for disabled spectators swamped with supporters trying to find anywhere to take a seat .
Fans who had legitimately paid to observe England’s first major final for 55 years were left struggling to observe the sport .
Stewards, perhaps understandably, were overwhelmed by the numbers they were having to affect . It certainly didn’t appear to be a “small group” as originally stated.