Despite a controversy that continues to swell after the Champions League final on Saturday, the White House had remained silent until then. The people of Madrid were too busy savoring their fourteenth European title won at the Stade de France to fuel the debate on the fiasco that was the organization of the match in the French capital. But in a press release published this Friday on the club’s website, the highest authorities of Real are in turn banging their fists on the table.
Unsurprisingly, like Liverpool, the Merengues tackle the organizers of the event. “What should have been a big football party for all the fans […] turned into an unfortunate event”regrets Real Madrid, calling for all the light to be shed so that “situations like those experienced are eradicated forever from football and sport”. For the Spanish club, this final “gave the world a picture far removed from values and goals” that the round ball must convey.
Supporters “harassed, assaulted and violently robbed”
Madrid cites in particular the numerous attacks of which their supporters have been victims. Many have been “harassed, assaulted and robbed with violence” around the stadium, even in their cars or buses, “some even had to spend the night in the hospital because of their injuries”. And to question the choice of the Stade de France to host the event: “We want to know what are the reasons behind the designation of the venue for the final and what criteria were taken into consideration given what we experienced that day.” Before the start of the war in Ukraine, the final was planned in Russia. Paris had taken over its organization the day after the Russian invasion.
Not a word from Real, however, on the complications of entering the stadium or on the tear gas reserved as welcome gifts by the police, Madrid fans having been relatively spared, unlike those of Liverpool.
Across the Channel, the pressure is still not down. The official Reds account on Twitter hastened to share the press release from Real Madrid, the latest publication in an endless series that began on the evening of the final. Every other day, Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan speaks on video on social networks to take stock of the progress of the procedures carried out by the club after the chaotic evening and to attack the French authorities.
Liverpool have set up an online form, available until Sunday, to collect testimonials from their fans present at the Stade de France – more than 6,500 have already answered the call. At the same time, a psychological aid cell for supporters who have suffered the damage in Paris must be set up. For their part, the aficionados of the Reds must meet on Saturday “to discuss the follow-up to be given after the events in Paris”.