The following is breaking news: Sky News has obtained the findings of a UEFA-commissioned investigation into the mistreatment of Liverpool fans at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. The report is expected to expose flaws that nearly led to disaster and blame the French authorities, French police, and UEFA. According to the report, Liverpool fans have been cleared and are not to blame for what occurred in Paris.
The report criticizes French police for using pepper spray and tear gas on fans who were caught in a crowd through no fault of their own. It also claims that the police were too harsh in their treatment of supporters, treating them as if they were all hooligans. The report states that when actual problems arose, the police were not proactive enough and relied on incorrect information.
The French Football Federation and French authorities have been chastised for a lack of venue risk assessment, poor planning, and poor organization, which have resulted in bottlenecks and crushes at turnstiles. The report highlights French authorities’ attempts to shift blame onto Liverpool fans, including the French interior minister’s claim that up to 40,000 Liverpool fans arrived without tickets or with fake tickets.
According to the report, UEFA, the governing body of European football, bears primary responsibility for what went wrong, though some commission members disagreed with that conclusion. According to the report, the UEFA security and safety unit was sidelined in the game’s planning, and the fact that the game was played in Paris rather than Saint Petersburg due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added to the difficulties in ensuring fan safety.
The report serves as a wake-up call to all those involved in major sporting event planning to prioritize fan safety and well-being and to ensure that everyone can enjoy the game in a safe and secure environment. The exoneration of the Liverpool fans emphasizes the importance of holding those responsible accountable and preventing similar incidents in the future.
