Images from outside the Stade de France in the build-up to Saturday’s Champions League final, which included the indiscriminate use of pepper spray by French police on Liverpool supporters, made for distressing viewing.
Innocent ticket-holders, including families with children, were caught up in this display of disorganisation and heavy-handed tactics.
A bottleneck near the stadium caused a situation where up to 20,000 Liverpool fans were waiting for several hours. Meanwhile, after the game, there were reports of organised gangs mugging supporters as they left.
What must happen now is a thorough investigation by Uefa and French authorities to determine the cause of the problems, how some people without tickets appeared to gain entry to the stadium and the treatment of Liverpool fans by police.
Things could have been far worse. Lessons must be learned to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Green flag for parties
It may be an overcast Monday, but today marks the start of an exciting week. Millions of people are expected to attend street parties over the upcoming four-day jubilee weekend to celebrate the Queen’s extraordinary longevity and service. But there are concerns that local authorities have only approved 16,000 official applications to close roads.
We urge councils to respond quickly and sympathetically to any last-minute requests to throw a party in Her Majesty’s honour.
