Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has thanked the club's supporters for providing information of their negative experiences in Paris before the Champions League final. On Wednesday, Reds fans were cleared of any blame for the horrific scenes that happened outside of the Stade de France.
The French government initially blamed Liverpool supporters and fake tickets for the chaotic events surrounding the ground that saw those same supporters tear-gassed and robbed. But after the French Senate's report was published, Reds fans were found to be blameless and that what happened was a result of many organisational failures.
And Hogan said in a message on Liverpoolfc.com after the news of the report broke: "I think it’s probably similar to what I’ve said previously, which is a huge thank you. We know that what happened on the night was extremely traumatising for thousands of people, who were going to a football match for what should have been a great evening and turned into something that was really horrific, before and after the event.
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"So, I would say a huge thank you first off to everybody, again, for committing their experiences down on emails and letters that we received; for taking advantage of the expert help that was provided, which I think is critical. Those that still may need that, we would ask them again to make sure they take advantage of that.
"And simply for continuing to support the club. This has been an incredibly challenging time over the course of the last six weeks but I’m incredibly proud of our fanbase, I’m incredibly proud of the way that everybody has come together. I wouldn’t expect anything less. I would just say thank you to everybody."
Hogan was asked about what the next steps could be in terms of these findings and the UEFA enquiry: "So in this case the Senate has asked that the French government review their findings and support their findings, and we would certainly welcome that.
"We would echo the comments made that no fan, football fan or otherwise – it doesn’t matter if you’re going to a football match or a concert etc – no fans should have to deal with what both Liverpool and Real Madrid fans dealt with on the night at Stade de France.
"Beyond that, I would hope and certainly we would expect that this review would play a part in the UEFA independent investigation as well. That panel obviously is just getting going in that process and we would certainly hope that Dr Tiago Rodrigues and the panel would use the Senate’s findings as a critical part of their research and investigation into the events around the final at the Stade de France.
"Finally, I would say I was incredibly encouraged to see one of the senators specifically apologise to the Liverpool fans and to the Real Madrid fans for what happened on the night. And I would ask that the French government do the same. Not just to the fans of Liverpool and Real Madrid but to both clubs, who have had reputational issues coming out of the final and we would hope they would extend an apology where one is deserved."
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