UEFA review on Champions League final pre-match incidents to be released next month – Get French Football News

L’Equipe are reporting that the UEFA review regarding the organisational problems in the build-up to the Champions League final at the Stade de France is expected to be released in February. More than seven months have elapsed since the chaos that marred Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool.

Kick-off had been delayed by 36 minutes due to distressing scenes outside the stadium – thousands of Liverpool fans struggled to get inside the ground due to lengthy queues, closed gates and tear-gassing from the French police. After the game, there were reports of Real Madrid and Liverpool fans alike being subjected to muggings.

Two days after the game, UEFA announced that an independent report would look into the scenes. Said report was set to “examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final”. Dr. Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, a Portuguese MP, has been named to chair the review.

The report was expected to be published in November 2022, however, it was not ready. This lateness and lack of updates from UEFA has angered Spirit of Shankly, Liverpool’s main supporters union. “A lack of concrete information remains a cause of concern to our supporters and members and provides no reassurance that the Inquiry is progressing to conclusion.” In the meantime, Paris Police chief Didier Lallement admitted to a “failure” in the organisation of the Champions League final in front of the French Senate.

According to one of the panel’s members regarding the burden of responsabilities shared by UEFA, French Football Federation, the Police department and the Interior Minister, “there is a very French way to blame each other so it’s complicated to exactly know who did what.” The panel member added that the release date of this long-waited report will be revealed soon. “It is scheduled in February.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval