A UK law firm is investigating the potential of launching a group legal action against UEFA on behalf of Liverpool fans caught up in the chaos of May's Champions League final in Paris.
Leigh Day said it was investigating the potential claim for individuals who suffered physical or psychological injuries, having been contacted by a number of supporters. The firm said that it believes 5,000 to 10,000 people could be affected and would be able to join the claim, which is to allege that UEFA failed to ensure a safe and secure environment for those attending the match.
Kick-off was delayed by an hour following distressing issues outside the stadium, where turnstiles were closed and supporters crushed against gates while police used pepper spray and tear gas. A number of ticketless local youths had climbed the gates to gain entry to the game, which the Reds lost 1-0 to Real Madrid.
After the match, supporters complained of being robbed by local gangs as police offered no protection.
"I've been to many games across Europe but I've never been as scared in my life," the head of Liverpool’s disabled supporters’ association, Ted Morris, told Mirror Football. "They were running at us just trying to rob us. Sometimes if you go to the match, you might see ultras looking for a fight. These were here to rob us."
France’s interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, initially suggested the biggest issue had been an influx of supporters with fake tickets. However, a report by the French Senate found Liverpool supporters had been unfairly blamed by Darmanin, who it found had wanted “to divert attention from the inability of the state to adequately manage the crowds present”.
The report described UEFA’s management of the ticketing system as “unsuitable” and criticised a lack of training for stewards, who it said were quickly overwhelmed.
UEFA appointed Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues to lead a review in the aftermath of the match, which is due to provide its preliminary findings in September. The governing body also released a statement in which it said it wished to “sincerely apologise to all spectators who had to experience or witness frightening and distressing events in the build-up” to the final.
Leigh Day's investigative team is being led by consumer and travel law experts Clare Campbell and Jill Paterson. In a statement they said: “Supporters who had paid to watch a football match at the highest level of the game should have been able to expect that robust safety protocols and adequate risk assessments would be put in place by UEFA, sadly this does not appear to be the case.
“We believe UEFA failed to provide a safe and secure environment for those attending and we are investigating their legal liability to those who suffered injuries as a result.
“It was truly shocking to see how Liverpool fans and others who had travelled to watch the Champions League final were treated both at the match and in the aftermath. The accounts of their experiences paint a picture of a terrifying situation where people really feared for their lives.”
