Paris police criticised for ‘shambolic’ handling
of Champions League final
Liverpool fans in the fanzone in Paris react after
seeing their team lose against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Final
at the Stade de France. Photo: PA
.webp)
29/05/2022
| 12:38 PM
BY TED
HENNESSEY, PA, IN PARIS
Football
fans, politicians and UK authorities have slammed the policing of Liverpool’s
Champions League final in Paris after people were tear-gassed and involved in
violent clashes.
The Reds
lost to Real Madrid 1-0 at the Stade de France, just north of the city, on
Saturday evening.
However,
shambolic scenes outside the ground saw supporters with tickets made to wait in
huge queues, before French police used tear gas.
Some were
kept out of the stadium for large swathes of the first half and fans spoke of
officers pointing guns at them after the game.
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”.
A British
cabinet minister said it appeared French officers used an “aggressive
approach”, while a UK police force defended the “exemplary” behaviour of fans.
Supporter
Greg Scott, said his experience had been “shocking”.
He said:
“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 [organisers]
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.
Supporter
Robbie (24) who did not want to give his surname, said: “I got pepper-sprayed,
the first time that’s ever happened to me.
“It was
unprovoked, people were just standing there waving at the police to let us in,
we had tickets.
“Police
were just spraying us for no reason, even kids and older people, it was bad.”
Liverpool
FC supporters union Spirit of Shankly said on Twitter on Sunday: “Last night was
totally shambolic and extremely dangerous – we are gathering evidence from
fans.”
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 waited for hours
in long queues.
Footage on
social media appeared to show people climbing over barriers as crowds built up,
and the kick-off was delayed by more than 30 minutes.
Police carrying
shields and riot gear moved into the area shortly after 8pm and began using
tear gas.
Tensions
outside the stadium were then driven by young Parisians, causing ticket gates
to be shut.
Bottles
were thrown at officers who responded with tear gas.
Supporters
argued with ticket officials on the other side of the fence after being refused
entry.
Beyond the
gates some people, a few wearing Liverpool shirts, were taken away.
Those with
tickets were later let into the stadium well after the match began.
Similar
scenes also took place at the fan zone in the Cours de Vincennes area in the
south east of the city.
Police said
68 people were arrested and a nearby pub of 500 football fans was evacuated.
Northern
Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday
programme: “I think it is concerning, I think we do need to ensure that they
are looking into how this happened.”
He added:
“We’ve got to learn a little bit about what happened over there, get to the
bottom of it.
“But it is
concerning to see that people either didn’t get into the stadium or were
treated in the way that some of them seem to have been treated, with a very
aggressive approach.”
Uefa said
the delay was caused by the late arrival of Liverpool fans, but the club said
that was “totally inaccurate”.
A
Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “Can only describe it as the worst
European match I’ve ever worked or experienced.
“I thought
the behaviour of the fans at the turnstiles was exemplary in shocking
circumstances. You were not late 100 per cent.”
A statement
from Prefecture de Police, the Parisian police force, said queues formed after
fans arrived without tickets.
French
minister of sport Amelie Oudea-Castera, who attended the game alongside French
interior minister Gerald Darmanin, wrote on Twitter: “The attempts of intrusion
and fraud by thousands of English fans have complicated the work of stewards
and police forces but will not tarnish [Real Madrid’s] victory.
Uefa said
turnstiles were blocked because some Liverpool fans had purchased “fake”
tickets, leading to a build-up.
Liverpool
later released a statement calling for a thorough investigation into events
outside the ground.
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