Liverpool fans feared a repeat of the Hillsborough disaster during horrific scenes that saw them funneling into congested corridors and met with tear gas by French police while trying to enter the Champions League final in Paris.
French officials are trying to blame for the chaos that saw Real Madrid delay the kick-off by more than 30 minutes over “industrial-scale” fraud in fake tickets for the Reds’ 1-0 defeat.
However, that account was angrily dismissed by frustrated supporters, who cast doubt on France’s ability to host upcoming major sporting events such as rugby. World Cup and Olympic Games.
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Liverpool fans contacted by AFP lamented the disarray caused by the lack of signage around the stadium leading them to the right gate.
A lack of ticket checks on the stadium’s perimeter has also been blamed as eyewitnesses said several young locals joined the queue with thousands of Liverpool fans trying to make their way in.
French Interior Minister Gerald Dormanin’s claim that police action “saved lives” instigated a fan who had to fight for justice for 97 fans killed by a crush in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
“If you were unlucky to be in Hillsborough in 1989, it took you back to Hillsborough,” Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne told AFP. “Scenes like that were actually back that day.
“It was a complete lack of leadership or management, it was appalling.
“For the Champions League final, the blue ribbon event of football in Europe to be polished in such a way, it was very wrong to manage the crowd. It was unforgivable.”
UEFA initially blamed fans for “arriving late” for the delay in the game.
But on their approach to the Stade de France in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, thousands of people queued outside the ground as roadblocks caused by police.
“It wasn’t a fan problem, it was an organizational problem,” said Joe Blott, chairman of Liverpool supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly. “It’s a stadium that is no longer fit for purpose.”
Supporters were also reportedly targeted by robbers and pickpockets as they entered and exited the stadium.
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham said his phone and other belongings had been stolen.
“It was a complete mess, people could be seriously injured or even dead,” said Liverpool fan Willie Miller, who also compared the scenes experienced in Hillsborough.
“There were groups of local people around the stadium, armed with knives, looking for trouble. People were being cheated, people were stealing watches, people were stealing money, people were being beaten up.
“Now the French government is coming out and saying it is the fault of the Liverpool fans. How?”
UEFA is in the firing line from supporters for the lack of organization despite the skyrocketing costs for the fans. Face value The ticket price ranged from 70 to 690 euros.
France’s sports minister said on Monday that European football’s governing body would compensate 2,700 ticket holders who were unable to access the field.
“We’d like to see some accountability,” added Anfield Wrap’s John Gibbons, who co-hosted the live entertainment in the Liverpool fan zone the day before the final.
“They’re not slow to charge you.”
Liverpool immediately called for an independent investigation into the safety failures and are asking fans to submit evidence of operational mismanagement of the event.
Byrne said he had pressured senior members of the British government to demand answers from their French counterparts.
“You have some major upcoming events like the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics in the same stadium,” Byrne said.
“If they don’t learn the lesson, how do they make sure no sports fans walk away the way we did on Saturday?”
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