Following the serious disorder and congestion involving Liverpool fans at the 2022 Champions League Final, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin expressed regret over the “disorganised welcome” but fiercely blamed the chaotic scenes on widespread ticket fraud.
Speaking at a press conference the following Monday, he alleged that 30,000 to 40,000 Liverpool supporters arrived at the Stade de France either without a ticket or with a counterfeit one, claiming that the issuance of paper tickets enabled “massive, industrial-scale and organised fraud.” Darmanin went on to assert that approximately 70% of the tickets presented by the estimated 62,000 Liverpool fans were fake, citing the fact that only 50% of Liverpool’s contingent had reached their seats by the original kick-off time, compared to 97% of Real Madrid fans.
Darmanin also remarked that such incidents “only seems to happen with certain English clubs,” referencing issues at past Champions League finals and Wembley matches. He admitted police were surprised by a small number of local youths causing trouble but defended France’s overall preparation time, noting they only had three months to arrange the event after it was moved from St Petersburg. The match eventually kicked off 36 minutes late, during which time police used tear gas on fans, including families, outside the stadium. Liverpool’s chief executive, Billy Hogan, labeled the fans’ treatment “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, France’s Sports Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, acknowledged that France must improve the management of “tricky matches” but suggested Liverpool bore some responsibility by leaving its supporters to their own devices, contrasting their arrangement with Real Madrid’s use of chartered coaches.
The British government, through a Downing Street spokesperson, immediately condemned the scenes as “deeply upsetting” and urged UEFA to conduct and publish a full investigation, stating they disagreed with the narrative that Liverpool fans were responsible by arriving late.
Consequently, UEFA announced it had commissioned an independent report, led by Dr. Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, to examine the decision-making and conduct of all parties involved in the final. The chief of Paris police, Didier Lallement, had already noted “significant shortcomings” in the management of the Liverpool supporters.
