Liverpool fans could be awarded a £15m in compensation after being tear-gassed by police and attacked by local gangs at last year's Champions League final.
Large numbers of Liverpool FC fans gathered outside the Stade de France on May 28 ahead of the 2022 UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. French police used tear gas and pepper spray on ticket-holders caught in the crush.
French authorities at first blamed the ugly scenes on Liverpool fans, whom they accused of storming the stadium with fake tickets – but an investigation found UEFA was primarily responsible for the organisational and safety failures in the run-up to the match.
READ MORE: 'Haunting' Champions League final in Paris was like 'war zone'
The independent report also criticised the French police, and rejected spurious claims that fans were to blame.
More than 3,000 Reds fans are now seeking payouts, expected to average £5,000, for psychological and physical harm caused on the night.
Ian Suttie, 47, of Doncaster, South Yorks, who was caught in the crush with his daughters Rosie and Lucy, then 13 and 16, said: “I had a gut-wrenching feeling I’d put my children in danger. It could have easily been another Hillsborough.”
James Hutcheon of Hutcheon Law, representing 50 claimants, said some payouts could hit up to £50,000.
Claire Campbell of Leigh Day, representing 1,165 clients, said: “UEFA had a responsibility to ensure fans could gather in a safe and secure environment.”
UEFA, which has apologised and offered refunds, declined to comment.
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