Their disappointment was accentuated by worrying scenes in which fans were tear gassed and batoned by riot police outside the Olympic Stadium before the match.

The disorder broke out when fans were held back because of congestion ahead of them and they realised they were not going to be allowed to use their tickets to go into the final.

The police told them the stadium was full and it was not their fault they had to deny them entry.

Supporters raced up staircases to try to find another way into the ground and lines of officers held them back at the top, lashing out at them with their batons.

Furious supporters either drifted away disconsolately or in some cases managed to dodge through police buses set up as a barrier to funnel fans into the ground.

Two Liverpool fans from Norway said they had paid 3,000 euros apiece for travel packages including a match ticket.

Rune Loholt, 35, a construction worker from Trondheim, said: "I've heard that fans without tickets managed to get past the authorities and that's why genuine supporters can't get in. It's a real disgrace. They've done a lousy job."

Frode Forsdahl, 32, a student, from Trondheim, said: "We've both been pepper sprayed and hit in the faces with clubs. We'll have to give up, we've tried everything."

Meanwhile six Britons have been arrested in the city for various matters, including one for allegedly selling forged tickets to an Italian travel agent, while up to 120 were held at the stadium for presenting fake tickets. They were expected to be released after making a statement.