France’s sports minister has blamed Liverpool supporters for the crowd chaos before the Champions League final.
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said Liverpool fans without tickets or with fake tickets sparked chaos outside the Stade de France on Saturday, but admitted local youth trying to force their way into the ground exacerbated the problem.
The chaos resulted in a 36-minute delay to the final, which Real Madrid won 1–0.
“What we really have to bear in mind is that what happened, first of all, was this mass gathering of the British supporters of the Liverpool club, without tickets, or with fake tickets,” Oudéa-Castéra told the French radio station RTL.
She also blamed Liverpool club officials for failing to help their supporters find their way to the stadium, accusing the club of abandoning fans to “fend for themselves.”
This was in stark contrast to the help given Real Madrid to its fans, Oudéa-Castéra said, adding she was seeking to convene a meeting with UEFA, the French football federation, the police and the interior ministry.
“We absolutely must get to the bottom of what happened,” she said on RTL radio.
Her words are the latest in the fallout from the biggest club competition in world football which saw Liverpool fans—including children and those with disabilities—tear gassed and beaten by baton-welding French police.
UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, echoed the French authorities’ account, saying turnstiles were blocked because some Liverpool fans had purchased “fake” tickets leading to a build-up of crowds.
But in the UK many have refuted it was Liverpool fans who were to blame, and instead accuse the French authorities and UEFA for poor planning and inadequate and heavy-handed policing tactics.
And numerous video footage circulating online and on various media appear to back up their claims.
People spoke of their disgust at seeing elderly fans and children caught up in the mayhem, which a Liverpool supporters trust dubbed “shambolic and extremely dangerous.”
The UK’s government’s Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said the footage circulating of the scenes was “deeply concerning” and suggested UEFA launch a formal investigation.
“I urge UEFA to launch a formal investigation into what went wrong and why, in coordination with stadium staff, the French Police, Federation Francaise de Football, Merseyside Police and Liverpool Football Club,” she said in a statement.
Liverpool Football Club also released a statement calling for a thorough investigation into events outside the ground, which it claims put the safety of supporters at risk.
The UK ambassador to France is understood to have contacted the French Ministry of Interior, directly urging an investigation.
Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson accused UEFA of “messing up the biggest game in world football,” saying the final had “not been well organised” and adding many of the players’ families and friends were caught up in the ugly scenes.
Supporter Greg Scott, said his experience had been “shocking.” He told PA: “I’ve travelled to many stadiums around Europe, away days, that kind of thing.
“But never have I seen anything like this, complete lack of control from the police.
“Their excuses stink—it’s nothing to do with the fans, the club, it’s UEFA and the French police.
“People could have been seriously hurt, we were piled in together for hours in the heat queuing up, and then we had no idea where to go next.
“French police were using tear gas on a calm crowd like it was nothing, those with tickets were kept outside, I didn’t see most of the first half.”
Another told of being in “fear” of the French police.
The issues started hours before the game, as tens of thousands of Liverpool fans were funnelled underneath a bridge close to the stadium where they then waited for hours in long queues.
Police carrying shields and riot gear moved into the area shortly after 8 p.m. and began using tear gas.
Those with tickets were later let into the stadium well after the match began.
Police said 68 people were arrested and a nearby pub of 500 football fans was evacuated.
