UEFA apologizes for the incidents in the run-up to the Champions League final

UEFA has apologized to fans who were affected by the events surrounding the Champions League final after ticket fraud and crowd problems marred the main event at the Stade de France in Paris.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
03 June 2022 Friday 11:41
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UEFA apologizes for the incidents in the run-up to the Champions League final

UEFA has apologized to fans who were affected by the events surrounding the Champions League final after ticket fraud and crowd problems marred the main event at the Stade de France in Paris. The statement from the European organization comes shortly after complaints from Real Madrid, champion against Liverpool in the final played in the French capital.

The match was delayed for more than 30 minutes after security personnel forcibly held back people trying to enter the Stade de France, while riot police also fired tear gas at fans, including women and children.

"UEFA would like to sincerely apologize to all the spectators who had to experience or witness frightening and harrowing events in the build-up to the UEFA Champions League Final... on a night that should have been a celebration of European club football. ", said. in a statement on Friday.

"No football fan should be in that situation and it must not happen again." French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin placed much of the blame on Liverpool fans, but acknowledged that several hundred local "criminals" had taken the police by surprise and turned up to cause trouble.

European football's governing body had commissioned an independent report earlier this week. On Friday they outlined their scope as they seek to establish an event schedule, review operating plans, assess roles and responsibilities and response to events inside and outside the stadium.

"The Review will engage with UEFA and all relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to fan groups... the finalist clubs themselves, general spectators, the French Football Federation, the police and other national public authorities and venues, and the stadium operator,” he added.

Real Madrid demanded answers from organizers about measures taken to protect fans, while Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan called for an investigation, saying they had written to UEFA and raised specific questions.