Liverpool fan 'battered by corrupt cop who robbed' Champions League final ticket

WINNERS: Liverpool FC won 2-0 over Tottenham (Pic: GETTY)

Lifelong Liverpool fan Craig Skillicorn, 47, said he feels “robbed” after claiming his Champions League final ticket was taken by a police officer in Madrid.

Mr Skillicorn said he was on the way to see Liverpool play Tottenham at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium when a "corrupt” copper seized his ticket because he thought it was a knock off.

The stunned father-of-four said he tried to prove to officers the ticket had been purchased through the club ballot but his complaints fell on deaf ears and later police brutality, as officers beat his legs.

The lifelong reds fan said: “I feel as though the match was robbed from me.

"I didn’t want to watch the match back, I haven’t watched any videos, and I didn’t want to stay in Liverpool for the parade.

"It was a brilliant result. But the day itself, for me, was awful. I was in Madrid to watch the game - not in a pub.

"I was miserable as sin. I’m not a big guy, I was on my own - I was probably a sitting target for the corrupt police.

"There was no explanation, no letting me prove the ticket wasn’t a fake - he pocketed it.

MISSED OUT: Paul's ticket was seized by police in Madrid (Pic: Paul Skillicorn)

"People were offering a few thousand for tickets outside the stadium so I wouldn’t be surprised if he just flogged it to a mate around the corner - it was so corrupt.”

Describing the fateful day, he said: “I picked up my ticket from the hotel, as directed by Liverpool, had to show some ID, and I was advised - don't take your ticket out your pocket.

"So I moved my wallet and keys and didn't handle it again until I got next to the stadium - I didn't tell people I had a ticket, I didn't get it out. I didn't want to lose it more than anything.

"When I got there, a woman on security turnstile was letting me through when a police officer came over, took the ticket, and said 'fake'. He then put it in his pocket - I couldn't believe it.

BRUISED: Police in Madrid repeatedly hit Paul's knees (Pic: Paul Skillicorn)

"I said it was not a fake and showed him the email confirmation, the picture I took of my ticket on my phone, but he just said it was a fake.

"I wasn't getting anywhere with him so I was asking if anyone else had seen anything, to see if they could back me up, but I wasn't getting anywhere so I spoke to some other police - they just smirked and said they couldn't speak English.

"So I started walking back to the security turnstile when police grabbed me and hit me with a baton, and a police officer on horseback did a sort of handbrake turn and knocked me over - my body was black and blue. I couldn't get my head around it."

Giving in, Mr Skillicorn headed back to Madrid’s centre and watched his team win 2-0 in a pub, instead of the stadium seat he had paid for.

WILD: Liverpool fans celebrated the teams win in Madrid (Pic: GETTY)

Liverpool FC said it had been made "aware of a number of issues" experience by supporters in Madrid but complaints to UEFA have been met by silence.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "We aware of a number of issues that supporters experienced in Madrid.

"The club has spoken to Mr Skillicorn earlier this week and are aware of his complaint.

"Our intention is to work with UEFA and the relevant authorities to understand what has happened."

Daily Star Online has contacted UEFA for comment.