European football governing body, UEFA has issued a statement to apologize to the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League finalists, Real Madrid and Liverpool, over the chaos that happened at the final of the competition.
May 28, 2022, was a date UEFA would like to forget in a hurry due to the chaotic buildup to the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Stade de France in Paris. Recall that the kick-off of the final was delayed for over 30 minutes before it finally commenced with a good number of the spectators locked outside the match venue.
Then, the handlers of Stade de France claimed that the Real Madrid and Liverpool Champions League final was delayed because the fans arrived at the match venue late. They displayed the announcement boldly inside the match venue.
But that claim was debunked minutes later when videos surfaced online showing thousands of Liverpool fans stranded outside the match venue.
Most of the stranded fans were seen holding their match tickets while they patiently wait to be allowed into the match venue. Some of the irate fans who could not wait decided to jump barricades in an attempt to gain access to the stadium before the kick-off of the match.
Due to how chaotic the situation was, the French police had to use pepper spray on the stranded fans. But that didn’t stop the fans from holding on to their dream of watching the Champions League final.
After the game in which Real Madrid won 1-0, France’s sports minister claimed that the chaos was caused by Liverpool fans who came to the stadium with fake match tickets, a claim Liverpool’s top hierarchies were not happy about.
Earlier, UEFA issued a statement to announce that an independent investigation penal has been set up to come up with a report on what led to the chaos and other issues surrounding the Real Madrid and Liverpool Champions League final in Paris.
On Friday, May 3, Real Madrid issued a statement demanding answers to why the Stade de France was chosen for the final and who are responsible for the stranded fans outside the match venue.
The Spanish La Liga giants also noted that Real Madrid fans were also victims of the chaos at the stadium, adding that fans also complained that there was overcrowding inside the stadium.
Hence, UEFA had to issue a follow-up statement to apologize to Liverpool and Real Madrid fans for the discomfort they faced at the Champions League final.
The UEFA statement read: “No football fan should be put in that situation, and it must not happen again.
“Uefa wishes to sincerely apologize to all spectators who had to experience or witness frightening and distressing events in the build-up to the Uefa Champions League final at the Stade de France on 28 May 2022 in Paris, on a night which should have been a celebration of European club football.”
UEFA wishes to sincerely apologise to all spectators who had to experience or witness frightening and distressing events in the build-up to the UEFA Champions League final last week.
— UEFA (@UEFA) June 3, 2022
An independent review will seek to establish a full picture of what occurred.
Full details: ⬇️
