Liverpool legend was "close to death" during Paris Champions League final chaos

Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy has opened up about his "frightening" Champions League experience which saw him fear for his life outside the Stade de France.

The Reds' encounter with Real Madrid was delayed by 36 minutes due to issues faced by travelling fans attempting to enter the stadium. Tear gas and pepper spray were deployed used on supporters by local police as chaos ensued in the French capital, with some fans appearing to be trapped against fences.

When the game did get underway, some ticket holders were still not in the stadium and many did not gain entry at all. Liverpool issued a statement after the final saying they were "disappointed at the stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans faced".

Further investigations have taken place to pinpoint the causes of the lack of organisation. The French senate is hearing accounts from Liverpool fans and UEFA as part of their probe into the incident.

Kennedy, who attended the game, admitted it was the scariest experience he has had in a football ground. He also added he "came close to death" before the match.

He told GB News : "It was a scary night. It was the most frightening experience I have ever had in a football stadium.

"I was like every other supporter. At the time, I was finding my way into the stadium and my son was helping me along the way and we seemed to get funnelled into an end where there wasn't, there was no answer, there was no end to it.

"And I eventually was hauled over a fence which must have been six to eight feet high by a couple of lads and my son and I were out of danger at that particular time but I'll tell you I was close to death."

"I was that scared. I've never been in that situation before and I never want to see it again," he added.

"And hopefully when they have this investigation, they will go through all people's [experiences] at that particular time and come up with hopefully the right answer.

"I didn't think security was handled very well and particularly when you got to the actual ticket...

"They were having problems that obviously there were one or two forgeries going about at that particular time but nobody seemed to be funnelling you in the right direction.

"No matter where I went, I had problems and again, being hauled over an eight-foot high fence wasn't the ideal action, and it's just as well I did because I think I would have been in real trouble.

"So that was really the big, big problem…can I just say all the police, OK, who worked fine at the time, but they used the pepper spray a little bit too much for my liking.

"They thought everybody was a troublemaker and they would instantly get it out and flash it in your face."