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Liverpool fans are furious after being told they had won VIP tickets to the UEFA Champions League final in Madrid - only to be informed it was a mistake.

Zavvi, an entertainment retail store formed from the now defunct Zavvi shops, was hosting a competition in affiliation with Mastercard to win a ticket to the European game.

Football fans were delighted when they received the email telling them they had won the competition and were on their way to Madrid.

It read: "We here at Zavvi would like to wish you a huge congratulations as you have been chosen as the winner of our Mastercard competition, winning a VIP trip for two adults to attend the UEFA Champions League Final Madrid 2019."

The VIP package was said to include two tickets to the Madrid final, two nights accommodation in a four star hotel, UK transfer, return flights, airport and stadium transfers, insurance and £250 prepaid card.

Many excited customers took to Twitter, excited at their big win.

However, Zavvi confirmed to customers that there had been a mistake - and football fans had not won the elusive trip.

A spokesperson for Zavvi told the ECHO: "We’re extremely sorry to have got our loyal customers’ hopes up, however due to human error a mistake was made with our mail-out and unfortunately there is only one winner of the tickets."

And a Mastercard spokesperson said to the ECHO: “We are extremely disappointed with today’s events and our sympathies go to the many people who were wrongly contacted by Zavvi in connection to their competition.

"We have asked Zavvi to clarify how they are resolving as a matter of urgency.”

On Twitter, the customer service team wrote: "Apologies, we're aware of the problem regarding the recent Mastercard Competition.

"We seem to have had some technical issues and we're currently looking into this."

One disgruntled fan wrote on Facebook: " I was so excited just the thought of a holiday, being a full time carer for my disabled mum, moneys always tight so last holiday I had was about 15 years ago.

"It would have been a lovely break for my mum has well. Shame on you Zavvi."

Another said: "My husband is a Liverpool fan and has been since he was a boy, he turns 40 on 5th of June and this would have been wonderful, we actually thought we might have won something.

"Not giving you a sob story as everyone deserves a chance to win but you really don’t know how much this would have meant to us...actually feeling sick now and I expect many other people are too."

Another fan said: " I won as well and being a lifelong lLverpool fan was quite emotional. Think we should all get a £250 prepaid card still."

And one heartbreakingly wrote: "I was going to take my dad, he's had a rough few months, my sister diagnosed with cancer, and his brother died suddenly last week.

"This would have bee a fantastic pick me up, which looks to be cruelly taken away. Not good Zavvi not good at all."