More evidence has been heard about how Liverpool fans worked to protect each other and potentially saved lives amid chaotic scenes at the Champions League final in Paris.
Many Reds fans are still coming to terms with the nightmare they experienced in the French capital on Saturday May 28 and how close things came to disaster. UEFA have apologised to fans and are carrying out an investigation after thousands were forced into dangerous situations outside the Stade de France, before being attacked with tear gas and pepper spray by French police. Many were then attacked by local gangs on the way out of the ground.
Fans have been sharing their experiences and calling for investigations and sanctions against the French government and UEFA, not only for their chaotic handling of the match, but for their shameless attempts to blame Reds supporters during and after the final.
READ MORE: French ministers will be taken to task over 'appalling' scenes at Champions League final
Yesterday in Parliament, Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who was caught up in the chaos in Paris, brought an urgent question to the floor - calling on the government to back fans and local politicians in calling for a fully independent investigation into the events as well as formal apologies for the lies told about supporters.
During the House of Commons session, multiple Merseyside MPs rose to recount the experiences of their constituents. Many spoke of how Liverpool fans worked to protect each other and avert disaster and tragedy.
Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden, whose constituency includes Liverpool Football Club's Anfield home, read out emails from fans who had contacted him. He said: "Jon (constituent) said the police were behaving like thugs, looking for a fight. He believes it was only the calm behaviour of the fans in not retaliating that saved events from turning fatal."
He added: "Anthony wrote: 'We were very close to disaster on Saturday night. We were being crushed, pushed intimidated and assaulted. It felt like an intimidation to get a reaction from fans, ' Suzanne said: "I was crying and scared. My legs were like jelly. I was just in shock, for the first time in my life I felt old and vulnerable.'"
Presenting his question, Mr Byrne added: “I was there last Saturday in Paris, I was also there at Hillsborough in 1989, and I can say without any shadow of a doubt that if it was not for the magnificent efforts of the Liverpool supporters last Saturday, we could have had a disaster worse than Hillsborough.
“Last Saturday in Paris I witnessed first-hand the shambolic stadium management and the most hostile policing environment at a sporting event I have ever witnessed. I watched children getting pepper-sprayed and pensioners getting tear-gassed, turnstiles and exits shut while thousands queued for hours waiting to attend the blue riband football occasion of the season."
Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker praised Reds fans for their 'impeccable behaviour.'
Responding to the comments of Liverpool MPs, sports minister Nigel Huddleston said he too recognised the good behaviour of Liverpool fans in Paris. He said: "I was receiving texts telling me of some alarming experiences."
"It is important that we get to the truth and to the bottom of what happened. The French authorities and UEFA are committed to doing so. I would also like to join him (Mr Carden) in thanking the fans who helped each other. I understand that there was a lot of activity to protect children, the elderly and disabled, which speaks volumes about the friendship and camaraderie of Liverpool fans at home or abroad. I will be making it clear that we expect to get the full and complete story of what happened so that it does not happen again."
Today, Mr Byrne has submitted an Early Day Motion calling for the House of Commons to condemn the 'deeply disturbing' treatment of Liverpool and Real Madrid fans by French police, to note the catastrophic failures in stadium management by UEFA and French authorities and to demand public apologies from UEFA and the French government for the 'categorically untrue' statements put out about Liverpool fans.
