French minister apologises to Liverpool fans over Champions League chaos

French minister apologises to Liverpool fans over Champions League chaos

1 hour ago Share Save Hugh Schofield Paris correspondent Reporting from Paris Share Save

Reuters

France's former interior minister has apologised for the first time for the 2022 fiasco at the Stade de France which saw Liverpool football supporters wrongly blamed for a riot. Gérald Darmanin admitted that security arrangements for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid were wrong, and that his first public remarks – blaming English fans – were a mistake. "It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions," said Darmanin, now France's justice minister. "The scapegoat was easy to find, and I apologise now to Liverpool supporters. They were quite right to be hurt. It was a mistake and a failure."

EPA Gérald Darmanin admitted it was a "mistake" to point the finger at Liverpool fans for the security breakdown at the 2022 final

Police used tear gas on Liverpool supporters as they tried to enter the stadium in Paris. Some fans were also ambushed and mugged by gangs of French youths. In a lengthy interview on the Legend YouTube channel, Darmanin said the night was "the biggest failure" of his career. "What I did not appreciate that evening was that the real problem was not coming from English supporters, but from delinquents who were robbing fans. Liverpool fans' claim 'can be heard in England' "Our security arrangements were not designed for that eventuality. We had riot police … with big boots and shields – not great for running. What you need against that kind of delinquency is officers in running shoes. "We got our arrangements wrong. We were expecting a war of (football) hooligans, and what we got instead was muggers." In their first comments after the problems, Darmanin and police chief Didier Lallement said the dangerous crush at the stadium was largely caused by Liverpool fans in possession of fake tickets. The claim was subsequently debunked in an independent report commissioned by UEFA.

PA Media Liverpool fans were initially accused of causing the chaotic scenes at the Stade de France in 2022

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