UEFA will pay back the supporters who were victims of the chaos surrounding the Champions League final last season. Real Madrid and Liverpool took on each other in Paris on May 28, 2022, but many supporters of the English club did not enter the stadium due to chaos around the Stade de France. UEFA has now announced that ‘the supporters most disadvantaged’ can expect compensation. The total amount will most likely run into the millions.
Thousands of Liverpool supporters – including children and people with disabilities – were forced into cramped and dangerous spaces before the game as the turnstiles remained closed. This is due to the fact that counterfeit cards were in circulation. This resulted in long queues. Fans were trapped and sprayed with tear gas. UEFA and the French authorities initially blamed supporters who tried to enter the stadium without a ticket. “These are reprehensible claims,” said the report released in February by a committee commissioned by UEFA. “UEFA itself bears primary responsibility for the disturbances that almost led to a disaster.”
UEFA announces special refund scheme for fans following the 2022 Champions League Final in Paris. We will refund fans who had bought tickets and were the most affected by the difficulties in accessing the stadium. Read more: ??
— UEFA (@UEFA) March 7, 2023
UEFA now writes that it will repay the duped supporters. “Refunds are available to all fans with tickets for gates A, B, C, X, Y and Z, where the most difficult conditions have been reported. In addition, all fans who, according to access control records, do not enter the stadium before 21:00 (time of kick-off, ed.) entered, or who could not enter the stadium at all, are eligible for a refund. Finally, UEFA offers a refund to all fans who bought tickets together with their companion.” The European Football Association emphasizes that Real Madrid supporters and neutral spectators are also eligible for a refund.
Last year it was announced that two Liverpool supporters committed suicide in response to the chaos around the stadium. With several fans of the Reds the finale brought back memories of the 1989 Hillsborough drama in which 97 people died. Hillsborough Survivors Support Chairman, Peter Scarfe, commented The Liverpool Echo know that the events at the Stade France ‘triggered’. In both cases, tribulation was imminent. The crowd was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray by French police. After the game, many were reportedly beaten and robbed by gangs.