Liverpool fans criticise 'half apology' over Champions League chaos
Liverpool fans criticise 2022 final 'half apology'
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Sarah Spina-Matthews & Marc Gaier
BBC News, Liverpool
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Reuters
Liverpool fans were initially blamed for chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France
Liverpool fans who were wrongly blamed for chaotic scenes before the 2022 Champions League Final in Paris have said an apology by France's former interior minister was "not meaningful".
Supporters were penned in and sprayed with tear gas by police as they tried to enter at the Stade de France before the final on 28 May against Real Madrid.
On Monday, Gérald Darmanin said security arrangements for the game were wrong, and admitted previous remarks where he blamed Liverpool fans for the disorder "were a mistake".
But Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne, who was in a crush that developed outside the stadium, said Darmanin's initial comments "were absolutely disgraceful".
Byrne said: "He was fed a load of lies from the police and the services at the stadium and he swallowed that whole without listening to the other side and actually looking the night's events.
"I think it was unforgiveable what he did."
PA Media
Police used pepper spray and tear gas on fans outside the stadium
French authorities, including Darmanin, had initially said the dangerous crush at the stadium was largely caused by Liverpool fans who had fake tickets.
An independent report commissioned by UEFA found there was no evidence of the "reprehensible claims" and found the European football body bore primary responsibility for the chaos.
In an interview on the Legend YouTube channel, Darmanin, now France's justice minister, said he had been "led astray by my preconceptions"
He said Liverpool fans were "quite right to be hurt" and said much of the disorder had been caused by some local people ambushing and robbing fans as they tried to get into the stadium.
'Half apology'
Vic Huglin, who has followed the club for over 70 years and went to the final, said he was "surprised" the apology had taken so long.
"This could have seriously been a matter of life and death," he said.
"It could have been another Hillsborough."
Mr Huglin said 10 members of his family who had travelled to Paris for the game, including his young grandson, did not go inside the stadium because they were "petrified".
He said fans were refunded for their tickets, but should have been further compensated for travel expenses and emotional distress.
He said: "Anybody can say sorry, but my son [who didn't go inside] incurred huge amounts of expenses and all he got was the compensation for the ticket."
Byrne said the French politician's apology was "not meaningful".
"His mealy-mouthed half apology will be noted by Liverpool fans, but I don't think there'll be any congratulations," he added.
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