Facts: The Champions League scandal in Paris
The final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 28 was postponed for almost 40 minutes after disturbances outside the Stade de France outside Paris meant that several supporters did not get in on time – or not at all.
Fences were knocked down in several places at the stadium as supporters pushed to get to the security checkpoints. According to witnesses, “bottlenecks” were created towards the controls.
When it all degenerated, the police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
According to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and the European football association Uefa, the chaos was caused by people who had invalid tickets.
Darmanin said there were between 30,000 and 40,000 Liverpool supporters at the Stade de France without valid tickets and claimed many of them tried to get in with fake tickets.
Sources within the European Football Association (Uefa) and the French Football Federation told AFP that there were, however, 2,800 people who tried to enter with fake tickets.
Gérald Darmanin initially defended the use of tear gas, saying it “saved lives”. But during a hearing before a Senate committee, he apologized.
Liverpool and Real Madrid have demanded answers to what actually happened and in an investigation by the French Senate it is concluded that the responsibility lies with the organizer. Uefa has also started an investigation.
Uefa and the French authorities have received criticism from several quarters for their actions in connection with the tumult. Paris police chief Didier Lallement has said the handling was a failure and Uefa apologized on its website on 3 June.
Due to major ticket chaos before kick-off, the Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28 was delayed by 37 minutes
The aftermath of the chaos is still felt today, at Liverpool’s home stadium Anfield, half a year after the incident.
“Tragic”
— I feel that people are under anesthesia at the matches. It feels like all the passion has been erased, says Ian Byrne, Liverpool supporter and Member of Parliament in Great Britain.
— Many I know – and other people – struggle to get to the games now. It is a consequence of crowd management. “The fact that they don’t want to go to the games because they’ve been to a game is tragic in its own way,” said Joe Blott, chairman of Liverpool supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly.
“Many are still suffering”
In the aftermath, French police were criticized for creating bottlenecks at the entrances to the arena and for using tear gas and pepper spray. An independent report, requested by the French Senate, found the unprovoked use of tear gas to be criminal.
“So many people are still suffering from what they experienced,” says Byrne.
In addition, the scenes outside the Stade de France reminded some supporters of those outside Hillsborough, where 97 Liverpool supporters died in 1989.
— The reason why the disaster did not get worse is due to Liverpool fans’ behavior and experience. For generations, Liverpool fans have learned about Hillsborough. Why don’t the authorities have it? I think football supporters saved lives, says Blott
More than 2,000 Liverpool fans are in the process of bringing a class action against UEFA. Among other things due to breach of contract in ticket sales and neglect of duty of care.
After the match, Uefa also started an investigation into the events at the Stade de France. The results of it are expected to be published in the next few days.