In a significant development regarding the 2022 Champions League final chaos, Gérald Darmanin, France’s Minister of Justice and former Interior Minister, has issued a formal apology to Liverpool fans. This apology marks the first recognition from French officials of the mismanagement that led to the distressing events outside the Stade de France during the match between Liverpool and Real Madrid on May 28, 2022.
In a detailed interview aired on the Legend YouTube channel, Darmanin admitted that the security arrangements were insufficient and acknowledged the flawed approach taken by authorities following the incident. He expressed regret for his initial public comments, which held Liverpool supporters partially responsible for the ensuing turmoil. "It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions," he stated. Darmanin further acknowledged that the real issues stemmed not from the English supporters but from criminal elements that engaged in robbery under the guise of chaos, stating, “What I did not appreciate that evening was that the real problem was not coming from English supporters, but from delinquents who were robbing fans.”
The events of that night resulted in police deploying tear gas against Liverpool fans, with reports of many supporters being targeted by gangs of local youths. Darmanin identified this miscalculation as the “biggest failure” of his career, explaining how the security measures were ill-equipped to handle such a scenario. “We were expecting a war of (football) hooligans, and what we got instead was muggers,” he remarked, outlining the inadequacies of their approach which relied on riot police rather than officers capable of responding swiftly to the unfolding situation.
Initially, following the disturbances, both Darmanin and Paris police chief Didier Lallement attributed the dangerous crowds at the stadium to Liverpool fans with counterfeit tickets. However, these claims were later discredited by an independent report commissioned by UEFA, which highlighted serious flaws in the management of crowd control and security preparations.
Darmanin’s recent remarks represent a pivotal moment in acknowledging the grievances of Liverpool supporters who endured a traumatic experience that not only marred a sporting event but also sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability within the French police and government structures.
Source: Noah Wire Services