Euros final at Junkyard Market in Norwich was 'pure chaos'

Hundreds of England supporters bought tickets to watch the match at Junkyard Market, which organisers had assured would be a "night to remember".

The food and drink market in St Mary's Works promised big screens, DJs, extra bars and food traders.

The moment one of the outdoor screens glitched (Image: Supplied)

But fans reveal that they were instead left facing dehydration and crowd crushes as it descended into a "chaotic, dangerous and completely disastrous" night.

Those attending the event said that it was understaffed and at over capacity, with tickets not properly checked.

They also accused the venue of not having safety measures in place to stop people from climbing on roofs and tyre stacks, which they said were at risk of collapse from the weight.  

In a statement, Michael Femi-Ola said the venue "sincerely apologise to any of our customers that were unable to watch the Euros finals". 

He added: "Unfortunately, we encountered technical difficulties with one of the screens which was provided by a third-party supplier. We understand the frustration that this may have caused ticket holders.

"Some of our event attendees chose to watch the rest of the match in our two other viewing areas, leading to increased numbers within these spaces.

"We worked closely with our security team to ensure that numbers within these areas were kept at appropriate and safe levels."

'Something was amiss'

One person attending the event who did not wish to be named said: "Junkyard Market promised a night to remember but what unfolded was nothing short of a disaster - marked by chaos, danger, and a complete disregard for customer safety.

"From the moment we arrived, it was clear something was amiss. The event was clearly understaffed and over capacity.

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"Many attendees, including several friends, noted that their tickets were not checked upon entry, meaning anyone could simply walk in and this lack of control was evident in the hour-long wait for drink tokens, only to join another lengthy queue for the drinks themselves."

The person said that despite the initial setbacks the atmosphere improved as the match got under way. 

But this was short-lived. 

Technical difficulties 

At around half-time, one of the outside screens began to glitch, causing it to show only highlights and prompting confusion among the crowd. 

When people realised the other side screen was working correctly, there was a "dangerous rush" as they attempted to move to see it, leading to severe overcrowding and a claustrophobic, crush-like situation, according to the attendee. 

"The atmosphere turned hostile with people throwing objects and booing," they added. 

"The insufficient number of toilets led to men urinating in corners, creating unsanitary conditions that trickled down to areas where bystanders stood."

Kathryn Hoare, who was also attending, said there were only four women's toilets and no disabled toilets. 

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"I watched a woman wet herself as the queue was so long," she said.

Another report stated that during the turmoil a security guard said "F**k this, I'm out of here," before he abandoned his post and left the premises with his belongings.

And things were getting worse. 

Palpable risk

"The event reached a terrifying climax when people began climbing on roofs and tyre stacks, causing infrastructure to visibly wobble under their weight," one attendee said.

"The risk of collapse or serious injury was palpable."

Hundreds of people were packed into the event space (Image: Supplied)

Nobody is believed to have been injured during the event, which they said was a "miracle". 

They added: "Junkyard Market has a duty of care to its customers - a duty it grossly neglected.

"The blatant misuse of personal licenses for a commercial event and the evident greed that led to overcrowding put countless people at risk.

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"The organisers should face severe repercussions, including losing their operating license and issuing full refunds to all attendees.

"This night was a stark reminder of what can happen when profit is prioritised over people’s safety."