By James Simons-
The Metropolitan Police have charged three individuals for invading the pitch during the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Yevhenii Lubnenko, 29, David Carneckij, 28, and a 16-year-old boy are accused of breaching section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991 by entering the playing area during the match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
Lubnenko, who has no fixed address, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday. Carneckij, residing on Walworth Road in south-east London, is due to appear at the same court on July 10. The 16-year-old, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, will appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court on June 24. Investigations are ongoing into two other individuals arrested in connection with the incident.
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The police made a total of 56 arrests around the Champions League final, primarily for attempts to breach security. A spokesperson for the Met emphasized that the “overwhelming majority” of these attempts were unsuccessful due to a robust policing operation that supported Wembley stewards and stadium staff.
The Football Association has invested £5 million in enhancing safety, security, and infrastructure at Wembley following the chaos at the Euro 2020 final, where ticketless fans forced entry into the stadium. Ahead of Saturday’s match, stadium officials reiterated their commitment to addressing poor fan behaviour.
In a pre-match statement, Wembley Stadium announced several security improvements, including increased stewarding, additional ticket checks, enhanced fencing, new security lanes, and stricter enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order around the stadium. These measures were all in place as the stadium prepared to host a record-breaking eighth UEFA Champions League final.
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More than 2,000 police officers were deployed on Saturday, managing both the Champions League final and associated fan events, as well as protests in the area. The increased security presence and enhanced measures reflect ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of fans attending high-profile events at Wembley Stadium.
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