Police were forced to push back large crowds attempting to access the Ballon d’Or red carpet as the start of the marquee football awards ceremony was delayed in London.
The ceremony had been due to start at 8pm at the London Palladium, but organisers were forced into a half-an-hour delay.
The delay came with Ballon d’Or contenders Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe among those having just arrived at the event, amid chaotic scenes nearby.
Footage shared on social media revealed that large crowds had gathered by the venue in Oxford Street in an attempt to catch a glimpse of leading sporting and showbiz names attending the ceremony.
One clip showed police near the red carpet having to hold back fans, who appeared to be trying to push through barriers to gain access to the event sparking security fears.
Daily Mail Sport has contacted organisers for comment.
Footage shared on social media showed crowds being forced back by security as they attempted to gain access to the Ballon d’Or red carpet at the London Palladium (Source: TikTok: @winstonso7)
Fans had been hoping to get a glimpse of stars including England captain Harry Kane on the red carpet
Real Madrid and France star Kylian Mbappe was another star in attendance as he hoped to claim the Ballon d’Or for the first time
A photographer was seen clashing with a security guard on the event’s official broadcast after he was pulled back on the red carpet. (Source: DAZN)
The awards ceremony – overseen by France Football – has been taking place in London for the first time in its 70-year history, with all previous editions having been held in France.
The decision to stage the event in London was made to honour Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d’Or back in 1956.
The security concerns outside the venue came as part of a chaotic build-up to the ceremony, which included a clash between a photographer and a security guard on the official broadcast.
The photographer appeared to inadvertently walk into DAZN’s red carpet broadcast, with the security guard seen trying to pull him away.
After the security guard intervened to move him away again, the photographer could be heard saying ‘stop grabbing me.’
Ballon d’Or organisers had endured embarrassment in the build-up to the event after three articles were posted on their official website which each announced Kane, Lamine Yamal and Mbappe as the winner of this year’s men’s prize.
Organisers, who were alerted by Daily Mail Sport, subsequently removed the articles and launched an investigation.
