The European Union has urged migrants in Turkey not to go to the border with Greece because it is a “closed door”, as thousands clashed with Greek police on Friday.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, called on countries involved in the situation to “stop this game” during a press briefing held after a Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Syria in Zagreb.

Hopeful migrants travelled in huge numbers towards the border after Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his government would stop controlling its land and sea borders with Europe and it was open for migrants to cross.

Mr Borrell made a direct appeal to migrants in Turkey and said: “The news about the alleged openness [of the Greek-Turkish border] is false and people should not try to move there.

“If we want to avoid critical situations, people have to know the truth. Let’s stop this game.”

Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Show all 20 1 /20 Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants from Afghanistan arrive on a dinghy on a beach near the village of Skala Sikamias, after crossing part of the Aegean Sea from Turkey to the island of Lesbos, Greece Reuters Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants waiting on the Turkish side of the border AFP via Getty Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant woman holding her child sits in a field near the Meric (Evros) River at the Turkish-Greek border EPA Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants run to avoid tear gas thrown by Greek police during clashes near the Pazarkule border gate AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Refugees walk back after a failed attempt to pass the Greek border near the Meric EPA Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A child cries as migrants arrive at the village of Skala Sikaminias AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant runs during clashes with the Greek police AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants use an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river, near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant from Cameroon detained by Greek authorities sits in a room in the village of Marasia AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants walk towards the Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020. AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant carries his belongings as he walks toward Meritsa river AFP via Getty Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Riot police detain a migrant AFP via Getty Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants prepare an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river, near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. On February 29 2020, AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants use an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river, near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants walk to the Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate at Edirne, Turkey AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants walk to the Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate at Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, February 29 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas on migrants trying to enter Greece, at Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas on migrants trying to enter Greece, at Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas on migrants trying to enter Greece, at Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas to push back migrants who try to enter Greece AP

He added: “Don’t go to the border. The border is not open. If someone tells you that you can go because the border is open, you can go freely to Greece, that’s not true.

“Avoid a situation in which you could be in danger. Avoid escalation of the crisis. Avoid moving to a closed door. Please don’t tell people that they can go because it’s not true.”

Many of the migrants now camped along the border are from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Africa.

Nearly 4 million refugees reside in Turkey, many of whom fled the war in Syria, making them the largest refugee population in the world, according to the World Economic Forum.

Mr Erdogan declared the borders open on 28 February after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed in a regime airstrike in Syria, in a bid to pressure the EU over the crisis.

He said: “We will not close the gates to refugees. The European Union has to keep its promises. We are not obliged to look after and feed so many refugees.”

The Council of EU governments told Ankara to stop spreading “false information” that the EU’s borders are open.