France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has issued a formal apology to Liverpool fans, acknowledging that his initial blame on English supporters for the 2022 UEFA Champions League final chaos was misplaced.
The Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France was marred by severe crowd congestion, leading to a 37-minute delay in kickoff. Thousands of Liverpool fans were trapped in bottlenecks, struggling to access the stadium, while French police used tear gas on supporters, including families and children.
At the time, Darmanin had wrongly accused English fans of causing the disorder, citing fake tickets as the primary issue. However, a French Senate report later exonerated Liverpool supporters, revealing that poor security arrangements were the real cause of the chaos.
Speaking on the French Legend YouTube show, Darmanin admitted that his preconceived notions led him to misjudge the situation.
“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,” he said. “Because I hadn’t checked what was happening properly, which was my mistake, and because I gave in to preconceived ideas… the culprit was easy (to designate), and I apologise to Liverpool fans. Of course they were right to (feel upset).”
Darmanin described the night as “the biggest failure” of his career and acknowledged that security measures were inadequate.
The apology comes as UEFA faces lawsuits from hundreds of Liverpool fans, who claim personal injuries due to the chaotic conditions outside the stadium. In March, UEFA lost its bid to dismiss these lawsuits, further highlighting the magnitude of the security failures.
A French Senate inquiry had previously concluded that UEFA bore primary responsibility for the mismanagement, warning that the event could have resulted in mass fatalities.
Darmanin’s admission raises concerns about France’s ability to host major sporting events, including the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Authorities have pledged to review security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
With UEFA and French officials under scrutiny, Liverpool fans continue to seek justice and accountability for the distress they endured.
