Apology issued by Darmanin to Liverpool supporters for the 2022 Champions League debacle

The 2022 Champions League Fiasco: Justice Minister Darmanin Acknowledges Blunder

Nearly three years after the chaotic scenes at the Stade de France during the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has offered a heartfelt apology to furious Liverpool fans. In 2022, when Darmanin was the Interior Minister, he erroneously pointed fingers at Liverpool fans for the pandemonium that caused a delay of more than 30 minutes.

"Alright, I admit it was a screw-up," Darmanin admitted in a candid interview on the "Legend" show on YouTube. "I didn't properly assess the situation due to my mistake, and I let my prejudices get the better of me."

Thousands of Liverpool supporters were packed outside the stadium, vulnerable to panic-stricken police who indiscriminately fired tear gas and pepper spray. Initial reports pegged as many as 40,000 fans without tickets or forged tickets as the culprits, but only 2,471 forged tickets were identified.

At the time, some claimed that CCTV footage from the Champions League final fiasco inexplicably 'disappeared'. Darmanin revealed that he wasn't even made aware of any problems when he arrived at the stadium. Unexpectedly, he only discovered the details when he personally reviewed video surveillance, fifteen minutes after his arrival.

The incident was assumed to be an instance of hooliganism, with Darmanin commenting on the hordes of red-clad Liverpool supporters besieging the gates, held back by riot police. According to Darmanin, it was the initial assumption that these fans were causing havoc.

In the days following the final, Darmanin maintained his stance, broadcasting opinions that echoed the police's allegations. However, he clarified in the interview that his statements were based on the information he received at the time, which turned out to be unfounded.

In a rare moment of admission, Darmanin also acknowledged that the security measures in place were inappropriate. "Our security system was never designed for this," Darmanin said. "The riot police, who are typically equipped with heavy boots and shields, aren't so great for handling the fluidity that was required during this situation."

The final was relocated to Paris at short notice after UEFA stripped Russia of hosting the game in St. Petersburg due to the military invasion of Ukraine. Reflecting on the debacle, UEFA-appointed investigators held European soccer's ruling body primarily responsible for the chaotic security failures that impacted tens of thousands of fans. In a 220-page report published in February 2023, the investigation panel stated, "It's remarkable that no one died."

According to the report, UEFA's statements blamed Liverpool fans for arriving late and attempting to enter the stadium with counterfeit tickets. Last year, UEFA reached a confidential settlement to compensate Liverpool fans for personal injury claims, with UEFA issuing a statement that read, "The settlement agreement has been made without any admission of liability."

Many Liverpool fans have also complained about assaults and thefts by local gangs after the game. While Darmanin did not mention these incidents during the apology, he did acknowledge the overall inadequacy of security arrangements that evening. His apology, though belated, is a step towards redressing the hurt feelings of the Liverpool faithful. (FRANCE 24 with AP)

(Insights: Initial allegations claimed that Liverpool fans had caused the chaos at the Champions League final, but various investigations have found that the failure was actually due to poor security management, crowd control issues, and heavy-handed police tactics. The justice minister, Darmanin, has since apologized for his initial accusations and admitted to making mistakes.)

The Justice Minister, Gerald Darmanin, has acknowledged that his initial analysis of the 2022 Champions League final chaos was incorrect, as a result of his own mistakes.
In the aftermath of the incident, Darmanin's statements, echoing the police's allegations, blamed Liverpool fans for the disorder, but recent investigations have found that the primary issue was actually inadequate policy-and-legislation for crowd control and security.
Darmanin's apology, though belated, serves as an effort to address the grievances of the Liverpool faithful who were subjected to general-news events such as tear gas and pepper spray attacks by the police, as well as incidents of assaults and thefts by local gangs.
The 2022 Champions League final fiasco, which took place in Paris and involved teams like Liverpool and Real Madrid, has prompted a reassessment of the European leagues' policies on security and crowd control, as well as the role of politics in such high-profile sporting events such as the Champions League.