UEFA blames UEFA for chaos in Champions League final

GENEVA (AP) — Investigators appointed by UEFA say European football’s governing body itself bears the greatest responsibility for the botched security arrangement that wreaked havoc in the 2022 Champions League final in Paris and endangered the lives of Liverpool and Real Madrid fans.

“It’s unbelievable that no one died,” the think tank said in a 220-page report released on Monday of what it called “a near-disaster” in the world’s biggest club game.

“The group concluded that UEFA, as owner of the event, bears the greatest responsibility for the failures which led to a near-disaster,” the report said.

The failing security system trapped tens of thousands of supporters for hours at the entrance gates before the final on May 28 at the Stade de France. The recent has a capacity of 75,000 spectators and will be one of the main venues for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

French police sprayed tear gas on scores of fans waiting to enter the stadium ahead of a game delayed by nearly 40 minutes. After Madrid’s 1-0 victory, dozens of fans were robbed by neighbors as they left the stadium in the poor neighborhood of Saint-Denis.

During the chaos and after the match, UEFA released statements blaming Liverpool fans for arriving late at the stadium and using fake tickets to gain entry. The report says none of this happened.

UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis apologized to Liverpool supporters in a statement for being affected by “the situation they have suffered” and the unfair way in which they have been held accountable.

The group of experts, appointed seven months ago by UEFA, pointed the finger at the leaders of UEFA and the subsidiary which organizes its events, as well as the public security authorities in France.

“The failure of UEFA to follow security measures, hand over these tasks to law enforcement authorities and enforce its own protocols contributed to the shortcomings that occurred,” the report said.

“Senior UEFA officials allowed this to happen, even though the flaws of this model were well known in high places,” he added.

In turn, the report targeted French police for incorrectly assuming Liverpool fans were a threat to public order.

The expert group was led by former Portuguese sports minister Tiago Brandão Rodrigues and included football match security experts who previously worked for UEFA and fan organisations.