Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram had his phone and other belongings stolen ahead of the Champions League Final on Saturday.
Mayor Rotheram, a lifelong Liverpool fan, travelled with thousands of other Reds to watch LFC take on Real Madrid in the final on Saturday. Like many, he witnessed harrowing and chaotic scenes around the Stade de France.
Countless Reds have spoken of their appalling treatment by police and authorities as they were funnelled into a dangerous crush and kept outside the stadium for hours, with many then being targeted by police with tear gas and pepper spray as they waited to get in.
READ MORE: Champions League final chaos live updates as pressure mounts on UEFA and French government
Mayor Rotheram had tweeted of witnessing 'completely chaotic' scenes as he waited to get into the stadium on Saturday. He said: "A total breakdown of control and communication outside the ground. All relevant authorities must be held accountable for this failure."
After this, there were no further tweets from the Metro Mayor. He has now revealed this is because he was targeted by thieves on his way into the stadium. Today he tweeted: "Sorry if I've been quiet since Saturday but, like too many others, I had my phone and other belongings stolen by dippers on the approach to the stadium. If you need to contact me while I sort a new phone, my DMs are open. I'll have much more to say shortly."
The ECHO understands the Mayor also had his bank cards and train tickets stolen in the incident.
In an additional statement, Mayor Rotheram said he was 'outraged' by the treatment of Liverpool fans by French Police. He said: "What should have been the conclusion to a brilliant season for Liverpool fans instead ended on something of a sour note – but that was nothing to do with events on the pitch.
“As a lifelong fan, and the representative for the Liverpool City Region, I was outraged by the treatment of Liverpool fans at the hands of the French police. The scenes outside Stade de France, before and after the game, were completely chaotic, with what appeared to be a breakdown of control and communication.
“What happened was difficult to witness. While fans travelled to the ground hoping for the night of their lives, it appears than the Gendarmerie went looking for conflict. More than any other club our fans understand the danger that poor policing and organisation at a football match can pose. It was disappointing how readily other teams’ supporters appear to have swallowed the lies and misinformation being perpetuated by UEFA and the French authorities – especially when social media has been awash with images that show the real truth."
Mayor Rotheram added: “Too often, supporters from different clubs have become easy scapegoats to distract from the incompetence of the authorities. Lessons have to be learned and accountability must follow – but I won’t hold my breath. It was Liverpool fans who had to endure poor planning and chaotic scenes this time, but it could just as easily happened to any other team. If the authorities aren’t completely honest with themselves, then how will they ever learn the lessons to stop any repeat.”
The Metro Mayor is one of many politicians to speak out about the awful scenes in Paris on Saturday. Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne said: "It was awful, policing, stewarding, an extremely hostile atmosphere from the start, to treat football fans like animals is unforgiveable."
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson said: "It was absolutely shambolic, but also the police behaviour was really brutal, absolutely disgusting."
