Finally a reaction for the supporters: UEFA presents this Friday, almost a week after the incidents, its apologies to the supporters who “had to undergo” them “painful events” surrounding the Champions League final on Saturday at the Stade de France, or “to attend”. “No football fan should be put in this situation, and it must not happen again,” insists the European body, which specifies in passing the objectives of the investigation ordered Monday into the circumstances of the meeting won by Real Madrid (1-0) against Liverpool.
Entrusted to the former Portuguese Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, this report should “identify the shortcomings and responsibilities of all entities involved in the organization of the final”. In detail, it will have to evaluate “all relevant operational plans related to Securitymobility, ticketing”, as well as “planning and preparation” of the various actors involved, “including on sites” distinct from the stadium such as meeting points for supporters.
Tiago Brandão Rodrigues will contact the representatives of the supporters, the two clubs, “spectators in general, the French Football Federation (FFF), the police, national and local authorities and the stadium operator”, lists UEFA. For the time being it is “the only survey in which supporters are associated”, emphasizes Ronan Evain, executive director of the Football Supporteurs Europe association.
If the communication from UEFA “wasn’t ideal on Saturday night”, laconically attributing the incidents to “thousands of counterfeit notes”, “the main thing is that she is there, and puts the pressure” on the French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, the FFF and the Paris police headquarters, “so that they recognize that the supporters were victims of the events”, added Ronan Evain. On Saturday evening, the impossibility of transporting spectators with tickets in time not only delayed the kick-off of the match by thirty-six minutes, but the scenes of chaos around the stadium also made the rounds of the world.
Macron “outraged”
Jostling, attempted intrusion by individuals without a ticket, supporters – including children – treated brutally by the police or victims of theft: six days later, the two clubs were still in awe of their welcome to Paris for the biggest game of the season in Europe. Some fans were unable to enter the enclosure until well after kick-off, while others were never able to enter the gates of the 79,000-seat stadium.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron said to himself on Friday “outraged by the disorder in all its forms and by what we have seen. I have a thought for the families who have been jostled, who have not been able to access the places they had paid for. That’s why I want us to be able to compensate them as soon as possible.” he underlined in an interview with the regional press, repeating that he had “asked the government to determine responsibilities and explain them in great detail to our compatriots, the British and the Spaniards”.