The chairman of the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association said he was "fearful for his life" as gangs of locals robbed fans leaving the Champions League final.
Ted Morris told the ECHO the final at Stade de France last Saturday turned into a "terrifying experience" for fans and he won't be going to another European away game because of it. Ted, who has been following the Reds for 51 years, said fans were fearing for their lives after being caught in a crush going into the game and then being surrounded by local gangs when they left to get to the Metro.
The 58-year-old from Halewood spent much of the week leading up to the match asking questions of UEFA's decision to only make a quarter of wheelchair bays available to fans. Although he is still demanding answers Ted told the ECHO "with the benefit of hindsight it's a good thing they weren't available so more fans weren't put in harm's way".
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Ted said the stories that emerged after the match are the most distressing he's ever heard. Ted said he saw "fans in wheelchairs being crowd surfed over barriers because stewards wouldn't help" - and wheelchair users and people with visual impairments being caught in the crush to get into the stadium.
Ted said: "It's impossible not to bring back memories of 1989 and Hillsborough. As soon as we saw on the board about the late arrival of fans we feared what the narrative would be."
Like many fans Ted said he couldn't enjoy the game and was just waiting for the game to finish. Ted and his wife left on 86 minutes after a Liverpool FC liaison officer told them it was "moody" outside the ground.
But the scenes beforehand were nothing for what Ted and fans making their way to the Metro experienced. He said "hundreds" of young locals gathered and started throwing bottles and pick pocketing fans.
He added: "I was fearful for my life. The noise they were making it's like nothing I've ever heard before - I'm not easily scared but it was the most terrifying experience of my entire life. It's hard to get my head around because of the shock value of the whole experience."
Ted said once he got into the metro he heard noises that sounded like "bombs". He said police didn't protect fans and instead targeted them with pepper spray.
He added the media coverage of the events has shown "the false narrative" from French officials and UEFA. Ted said "all they're doing is impacting our state of mind.
"It's wrong on so many levels and it will not only put people off watching football in Europe but going to the match full stop. We went to watch a Champions League final but reflecting back it became a matter of survival and just getting home."
