Chaos at the 2022 Champions League final: New report sees Uefa primarily responsible

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Before the 2022 Champions League final, Liverpool fans tried in vain to get to the Stade de France for a long time

Photo Credit: IMAGO/Adam Davy / IMAGO/PA Images

According to an independent investigation, the European football union Uefa is primarily responsible for the spectator chaos surrounding the Champions League final in May 2022 near Paris.

"It is remarkable that nobody lost their lives," says the 220-page report, which was published on Monday evening and also criticized the behavior of the authorities.

Uefa, as the organizer of the final between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid (0: 1), is primarily responsible for the organizational errors, "which almost led to a catastrophe".

The game started more than half an hour late because of chaotic scenes in front of the stadium in Saint-Denis.

Despite tickets, many fans did not come into the huge arena.

The police used tear gas, more than 230 people were injured.

As a result, the Paris police prefect Didier Lallement resigned his post.

Other investigations also proved the misconduct of the authorities and Uefa, which initially also blamed Liverpool fans.

"I remind you that a few days ago the Liverpool coach called on the fans to come to France even without tickets," France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said at a press conference at the time.

He had previously blamed the drama at the Stade de France on Liverpool fans arriving late to the stadium and counterfeiting tickets.

There was no clear evidence for either at the time.

Damanin also massively overestimated the number of fans who came to the stadium with fake tickets.

He spoke of 30,000 to 40,000 people without tickets or with fake tickets.

According to AFP, Uefa now estimates the number to be significantly lower.

According to a source, 2,800 fake tickets were scanned.

Uefa apologizes

Uefa commissioned the current investigation report itself, and the umbrella organization also bears the costs.

The results would now be analyzed, said Uefa on Monday evening.

In addition, a refund for the fans is being worked on.

"On behalf of Uefa, I would like to once again sincerely apologize to all those who were affected," said Uefa Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis, according to a statement.

"In particular, I would like to apologize to Liverpool fans for the experience many of them have had attending the game and for the messages released before and during the game that they were wrongly blamed. «

see/dpa