Exclusives

TWO Wembley stewards have been arrested after allegedly attempting to sell passes to England’s Euro final for £4,500.The passes were offered, along with high-vis bibs and wristbands, on a Facebook site titled UEFA Face Value Tickets Swap and Sell.
Trouble brews outside the stadium as fans gather ahead of the Euro 2020 finalCredit: Reuters
Snaps show off the stewards’ view of the pitch during the Denmark semi-final
One of the stewards’ hi-vis bib that was part of the package allegedly being sold off by the stadium workers
But the buyer they met was a Sun on Sunday investigator posing as a fan desperate for tickets.
And the would-be sellers were held in a sting operation after we alerted police.
The stewards could have unwittingly given access to terrorists targeting England’s biggest game since 1966.
And the scandal laid bare the appalling state of the matchday security operation which led to 2,500 yobs storming the stadium amid frightening scenes.
Meanwhile, an MP demanded action as a second Sun on Sunday investigation uncovered a 40 per cent cut in the Wembley policing bill over just two years. 
And, although stadium owner The FA is likely to have earned more than £1million for each of the seven Euros games it hosted, private stewards were paid as little as £8.90 an hour.
We were offered the passes after would-be sellers quit their posts in the stadium hours before the kick-off against Italy.
A pass that gave entry to Wembley Stadium was offered to our undercover investigator
The package of pass, wristband and hi-vis bib was allegedly offered for a combined price of £4,500
The initial advert had said: “Steward pass available x2 with uniform and pass. Anyone wants to get in I have 2 passes and 2 uniforms and wristbands for you to go in and watch the game.”
Facebook messages were then sent explaining how to assume their identities, along with pictures of a security pass on a lanyard, a white matchday wristband and the yellow bibs. Images were also posted showing a steward with a prime view at England’s semi-final win over Denmark.
Asked what to do about the picture on the pass,   the would-be vendor added: “You can print a photo and stick it on.
“They don’t check like that. It’s not as secure as you think.”
They added: “As long as you got the wristband and pass you’re sorted. Everywhere in the stadium and stands. You can go to the toilet, take it off and go and sit somewhere. All you have to do is show your wristband to two people. Not even the pass. When you get in that’s it. Job done.”
The pair were held by six officers as they waited to complete the deal outside a supermarket near the stadium. They were arrested on suspicion of fraud, handcuffed and led to a police van. Our investigator has now given a statement to police.
Police confirmed: “Two men were taken to a West London police station and have since been released under investigation.”
Last night, a spokesman for the FA  said: “We are aware of the matter and we are supporting the police with their investigation. We are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
Just before kick-off touts were demanding up to £62,500 for a pair of tickets.
But European football chiefs reckon as many as 5,000 ticketless yobs may have got into the stadium. One, Charlie Perry, told how he bribed his way in for £250.
Videos showed innocent fans being trampled in stampedes, with England hero Harry Maguire’s dad suffering suspected broken ribs. 
Figures obtained by The Sun on Sunday show the FA paid just £203,388 for police officers inside the ground in 2018-2019, the last full season before lockdown. Yet they shelled out £337,431.78 in 2016-17, meaning the total fell by £134,043  or 40 per cent.
The would-be sellers were held in a sting operation after we alerted policeCredit: The Sun
Police are also investigating how some fans made their way into the stadium without ticketsCredit: Reuters
And last night Tory MP Julian Knight — chair of the powerful Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee — urged ministers to “bang some heads together”.
 He said: “The events of last weekend could quite easily have ended in tragedy. When it comes to such events the authorities must spend whatever is required to make sure fans are safe and maintain public order.”
As few as 20 officers were inside Wembley when yobs forced their way in. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation staff association, said: “This shambles was caused by penny-pinching on behalf of Wembley and the FA.
“They have made tens of millions from this tournament yet don’t want to pay for policing. If you think private security firms can do as good a job as the police — well, you can see how it unfolded.
“There has been an erosion of investment into policing at football going back many years, which we have warned about. We are lucky there were not deaths or a terrorist attack.”
A Wembley spokesman said: “We will carry out a full review and investigation into the events. This will be done in collaboration with the police, the Greater London Authority, the Safety Advisory Group and the tournament delivery stakeholders.”
England lost the final in a penalty shootout after Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka missed their spotkicks — sparking a barrage of online racism.

Last night it emerged Prince William, who commiserated with the England team in their dressing room, has since sent private messages to the trio.
A source said William was “sickened” by the “unacceptable and abhorrent” abuse.
The Prince, president of the FA, has also been liaising with football chiefs about putting pressure on social media giants. He said last week: “All those involved should be held accountable.”
Fans storm Wembley security barriers and break into stadium More

A YOB filmed putting a lit flare in his bum strolled into Wembley without a ticket after a 15-hour drink and drugs bender.Charlie Perry, 25, on Wednesday night boasted of dodging shambolic security at England’s Euros final after downing 20 cans of cider.
Midday: Charlie Perry is filmed snorting white powder
Minutes later: Perry bends over and places lit flare between bare cheeks
Some 2,500 gatecrashers caused mayhem but he said: “I’m not sorry.”
One of the shameful army of Wembley gatecrashers last night told how getting in without a ticket for the historic Euro 2020 final was “p*** easy”.
Brazen Charlie Perry, 25, was filmed putting a lit flare in his bum after boozing since 8.30am — nearly 12 hours before the England-Italy game.
He estimates he downed 20 cans of Strongbow and “banged a load” of “powder” throughout Sunday — but was allowed to stroll in without a ticket for the showpiece final.
Scenes of Wembley being stormed by drunken gatecrashers who then refused to budge from the seats of paying fans may wreck England’s hopes of hosting a World Cup.
But Chelsea fan Perry, who boasted of bribing a steward to get in, insisted he “regrets nothing” and is already looking forward to the next tournament in Qatar in 2022.
He gloated last night: “I’d been on the p*** since half eight in the morning and had had at least 20 cans of Strongbow.
“It was the biggest day of my life. There were no rules that day. All I know is that I loved it all. I was off my face and I loved every minute.”
Perry says he is a veteran “gibber” — a fan who sneaks into games without paying — and did the same for England’s semi-final against Denmark a few days earlier.
He said: “Obviously I didn’t have a ticket. I had gone in as a gibber before so I knew how to get into the stadium already.”
Despite being stopped initially on Sunday and thrown out, shameless Perry simply took off his jumper and distinctive £545 Louis Vuitton bucket hat and tried again.
This time he targeted a different steward, and gave him “a little backhander” at the Covid test result and match ticket area.
Perry, a roofer from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, then found himself waved through.
The final stage was the turnstiles — so he got his wallet out again. He said: “To get in you have to go round the back of someone who already has a ticket.
“I gave them £100, and went behind them. In total it cost me about £250.”
After strolling in around 6pm, he brazenly posed for photos with others in front of the famous Wembley turf — before continuing his mammoth 15-hour bender. 
He was wearing the same headgear he was seen in earlier at Leicester Square, when his dangerous antics went viral.
As thousands of England fans drank and sang there around midday, he was filmed snorting a cocaine-like substance. 
Minutes later, urged on by crowds of boozing onlookers, he pulled his trousers down and placed a flaming firework between his buttocks.
A tattoo can be seen on one cheek saying “Benidorm Bunters” — a reference to a stag weekend. 
As laughing fans filmed his reckless stunt, Perry said he felt no pain from the sizzling flare because he was already so wrecked. He also claimed he was only trying to cheer people up after Covid.
Ticketless thugs storm into Wembley Stadium
6pm: Gatecrasher Perry blatantly poses inside before kick-offCredit: The Sun
Perry said: “After 18 months of misery, I thought it would bring the England fans together.
“It was the biggest day in English football for 55 years. 
“There were thousands of fans in Leicester Square, the atmosphere was amazing.
“Everyone was fooling around, there was a bit of a competition to do stuff so I just thought I’d put the flare up my bum. It was the biggest day of my life apart from Chelsea versus Man City in the Champions League.” 
He went on: “The flare burnt for about ten seconds or so around the cheeks, I didn’t feel a thing because I was highly intoxicated. No one dared me to do it. 
“It was a very irresponsible thing to do.” Some 2,500 gatecrashers caused chaos when they stormed Wembley on Sunday, trampling on fans and leaving England defender Harry Maguire’s father with suspected broken ribs.
The FA has since been charged on several counts by Uefa, which is opening an investigation into the chaos, potentially harming any future World Cup bids. 
But when asked by The Sun if he would apologise for his recklessness, Perry said: “Nah, no way. I’m not saying sorry.”
Asked what he would say to the England squad, who crashed out on penalties to Italy, he said: “The players in the team did really well. 
“My mates and I had one of the best six weeks of our lives. See you in Qatar.”
The FA has been slammed over the Euros security fiasco, which saw a disabled access door stormed by thugs. Terrified paying fans also claimed the police were nowhere to be seen as violence erupted all around the ground.
Charlie Perry boasted of dodging shambolic security at England’s Euros final after downing 20 cans of ciderCredit: The Sun
The Met’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors last night slammed hooligans who were “fuelled on alcohol” for tarnishing the historic 2020 final — at Wembley and at London landmarks.
But she refused to accept that the policing operation had failed — and even claimed it prevented the game being called off. She said: “I want to reiterate the Met’s commitment to identifying those responsible for the scenes both in Wembley and in central London. Their actions will have consequences.
“I do not accept that the policing operation failed and I stand by the difficult decisions made by police officers and the Met’s public order commanders. Without their immediate intervention, it is possible that this game could have been abandoned. The ugly scenes at Wembley will rightly be reviewed by the Football Association and by police. 

“Where lessons can be learnt we will work with partners to ensure that future matches are not disrupted by a group of hooligans who are fuelled on alcohol.” 
The FA said it is conducting a full review but claimed stewarding numbers exceeded requirements.
It added: “However, the behaviour of the people who illegally forced their way into the stadium was unacceptable, dangerous and showed total disregard for the safety and security protocols in place. We also apologise to anyone at the match whose experience was affected by this unprecedented level of public disorder.”  
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