Champions League Final: Independent UEFA-ordered review of events surrounding Liverpool v Real Madrid | World News

An independent review of the events surrounding the Champions League final has been published by UEFA.

European football’s governing body has appointed Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues to lead a “comprehensive” report on the problems Liverpool fans face in Paris on Saturday.

Thousands of Liverpool fans were trapped outside the stadium and sprayed with pepper spray and tear gas as they tried to enter the Stade de France ahead of the match against Real Madrid.

The review will examine the decision-making, responsibilities and conduct of all entities involved in the final, UEFA said.

Earlier, French Interior Minister blames “cheating on an industrial scale” for the chaos – and said thousands of fake tickets had caused mayhem.

The final, originally scheduled to take place in St Petersburg but was moved to Paris after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was overshadowed after thousands of Liverpool fans struggled to get into the stadium.

The start of the match was delayed by more than 30 minutes with Liverpool fans waiting in long lines, with many supporters stuck outside for hours and others not allowed in until halftime. .

British police, UK government ministers and Liverpool FC say an “aggressive approach” has been used against fans of the Merseyside club.

Former Liverpool player and coach Sir Kenny Dalglish told Sky News earlier that the Frenchman should be “embarrassed”, while the left-back Andy Robertson says Champions League final ticket issued by club was dismissed as “fake”.

The Portuguese Education Minister leads the review

Earlier, Liverpool asked fans attending the match to complete a survey to assist in the investigation.

Both the club and the Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has called on UEFA to conduct an independent review of the chaos.

Announcing the review, UEFA said: “To ensure his independent status in this process, Dr Brandao Rodrigues has agreed to undertake this assignment on a professional basis.

“Evidence will be gathered from all parties involved and the results of the independent report will be made public upon completion and once the results are received, UEFA will assess next steps.”

Dr Rodrigues is the Portuguese Minister of Education and was previously the Portuguese Olympic attaché during the 2012 London Olympics.

‘Regarding’ the police response

Just before the match ended, which Liverpool lost 1-0, UEFA issued a statement blaming Liverpool fans for buying fake tickets for the delay.

“During the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at Liverpool’s end were blocked by thousands of fans who purchased fake tickets that did not work in the turnstiles,” the statement said.

“This created a huge amount of fans trying to get in. As a result, the match was postponed 35 minutes to allow as many fans with genuine tickets as possible to enter the field.

“As the numbers outside the stadium continued to increase after the match started, police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them to leave the stadium.”

Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday’s program that it appeared an “aggressive approach” had been used by French police against Liverpool fans and that it was “constant”. mandarin”.

Read more:
What really happened at the Stade de France?
French police have been very heavy-handed with absolutely zero tolerance, said Sky Sports News chief reporter

Ian Byrne, Labor MP for Liverpool West Derby, was present at the match in Paris and said he had not witnessed such a sight since the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 which killed 97 Liverpool fans.

He told Sky News’ Kay Burley that he is seeing a similar “lie story” begin to build up after French police and UEFA, European football’s governing body, blamed the stockholders. Liverpool encouragement.

“I think we have to make sure that the scenes that we went through on Saturday are never reproduced at any sporting occasion,” he added.