A leading Liverpool FC fans' group has called for a "full apology from the French Government" after a French Senate enquiry into the chaos that surrounded the Champions League final on May 28 concluded that organizers were to blame, not supporters – undermining claims by the police and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

The match kick-off was delayed as supporters struggled to get through bottlenecks accessing the ground and were repelled by teargas fired by French police. Darmanin had pointed the finger of blame at Liverpool fans, claiming that up to 40,000 of them traveled to the stadium either with no tickets or fake ones.

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However, a fact-finding mission led by two senators instead found the problems were caused by a "string of dysfunctions" including a lack of preparation by French authorities and poorly executed security arrangements.

"These dysfunctions were at every level, not only during the implementation but also during preparations in advance," said the enquiry co-chair Laurent Lafon.

The final report also contradicted Darmanin's claim about Liverpool fans traveling to the stadium either with no tickets or with fake ones.

"The first statements (by the minister) do not match up with reality," said Lafon's fellow co-chair Francois-Noel Buffet.

"It was not because there were Liverpool supporters who traveled with their team that things went badly," Lafon added, noting that thousands of fans without tickets had been welcomed in fanzones set up in the French capital. 

 

Reminiscent of disaster

For many Liverpool fans, the scenes in Paris were horrifyingly reminiscent of the Hillsborough disaster when 97 fans were killed by a crush at their FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

Liverpool supporters' group Spirit of Shankly thanked the French Senate for its findings, but said it will continue to push for a full government apology and parliamentary enquiry.

"There remains the issue of lies being persistently repeated," Spirit of Shankly said in a statement.

"We want a full apology from the French Government with a complete retraction of the lies purported on their behalf on and since 28 May 2022, and will continue to lobby to achieve it.

"We also believe only a full French Parliamentary inquiry, with witnesses testifying under oath, will bring truth and justice and will continue to lobby to achieve it."

Britain's opposition Labour party leader Keir Starmer echoed the call for an apology to fans. "Every football supporter should be safe when they go to games," Starmer said.

"I'm glad the French Senate report clearly removes any question of blame on Liverpool supporters. But the French Government must also accept these findings and offer a full apology."

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said much of the "heavy-handed treatment and behavior of the authorities" was down to "inaccurate prejudices about football fans".

He added: "It needs addressing and needs to change or fans will continue to be put in harm's way - especially from those who are meant to protect them."

Hardliner Darmanin survives

Darmanin survived a recent government reshuffle and has been given extra responsibility as interior minister despite his claims, which caused fury in Liverpool and tensions with the British government.

Darmanin, a law-and-order hardliner, issued his first partial apology at the end of June, telling RTL radio: "Should things have been managed better at the Stade de France (stadium)? The answer is yes. Am I partly responsible? The answer is yes."

The head of the Paris police, Didier Lallement, admitted during a Senate hearing on June 9 that security operations had been a "failure" and offered his excuses to fans who were unable to attend the game. But he defended the use of teargas to move fans back from the stadium, saying there was "no other way."

The Senate commission did not recommend any sanctions against the police or Darmanin. "The role of a commission like ours is not to call for the resignation of someone in the government," Buffet explained.

Instead, its final report made a series of recommendations to authorities to improve security arrangements at major sporting events. France is to host the Rugby World Cup next year and the Olympics in 2024.

The Senate report recommended that the police draw up clearer guidelines for the use of teargas and adopt other crowd-control methods such as greater use of mounted officers and water cannons.

Authorities have also been under pressure to explain why security camera footage from the stadium was not saved, removing a potentially vital source of information for investigators.

"The images will always be missing. That's our biggest regret," Buffet said.

European football body UEFA is also conducting a parallel investigation into the debacle. The event was awarded to France after it was stripped from Moscow because of Russia's attack on Ukraine.