French transport unions on Tuesday hailed the success of their strike during the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, which the French government says contributed to public disorder that marred the event. .

The government has mainly blamed massive ticket fraud and Liverpool’s handling of fans for Saturday’s problems, but also said the transport strike contributed to the crush of fans near the Stade de France.

“The success of the strike during the Champions League final translated into a clear show of strength by the unions,” said a joint statement from the CGT and UNSA unions, which represent the workers of the RER public transport networks. and RATP of Paris.

The unions also threatened another strike on Friday, to coincide with the Nations League soccer match between France and Denmark. The unions want to improve wages and working conditions.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described as very worrying the scenes experienced at the gates of the Stade de France, in which the French police fired tear gas at some fans, including children, while the president of Liverpool, Tom Werner, has demanded an apology from the French Sports Minister.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said Liverpool had provided their supporters with paper tickets, not electronic ones, allowing for the possibility of “massive fraud on an industrial scale”.

This issue with the public has become a political issue ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections and has embarrassed France, which hosts the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the Olympics in 2024.

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