Paris Investigations - Latest

Fans start reporting crimes to French Police

Since the final on 28 May, we’ve seen TV footage, fans’ and journalists’ statements, and an eventual UEFA apology. The farcical handling of the Champions League Final at the State de France was clear for the world to see and completely undeniable. Yet the French authorities seem committed to the line that Liverpool fans were somehow at fault and unwavering in their denial of any wrongdoing in the lead up to, during, and immediately after the match.

However, Liverpool FC was on the front foot. Issuing an open letter, critical of the authorities and policing and setting up a mechanism to collect statements, images and videos from fans who were at the stadium.

UEFA have also announced the commission of an independent review of the game.

It remains to be seen whether the respective investigations will bring the same result, how they will be received by the French authorities, and whether any meaningful change will happen as a result.

I’m sceptical change will happen. This was not the first incident of its type at the stadium and it wasn’t the last. I’ve heard accounts of fans attending both rugby and football games where gates have been closed, causing crushes, woeful stewarding contributing to bottlenecks of fans both inside the stadium and in the underpass outside, which Liverpool fans were forced through before last month’s game. And then it happened again. Days later at a France international football match footage surfaced of fans experiencing the very same issues Liverpool and some Real Madrid fans suffered, although with noticeably less heavy handed police tactics.

My experience of the game was nowhere near as harrowing as that of many supporters there that evening. I was at Gate Z, which, from what I saw upon looking back towards the gates after entering the stadium, was not as chaotic as Gate Y. Nevertheless, fans entering Gate Z experienced the crush, as supporters surged when the gate was finally opened, and had to take up the role of police officers, preventing local kids from scaling the fence, adding to the issue. It was a frightening experience, particularly as crowd frustration mounted and numbers of supporters counted to grow, as they were funnelled by the gendarmerie into the closed area in front of the gates.

Gate Y, as I said, seemed to have the worst of it, with the gate held shut the longest and tear-gassing and pepper staying of queuing, well-behaved supporters seemingly relentless. Watching on from inside the stadium, it was shocking.

The french Gendarmerie were geared up for a fight and, in my opinion, sought to instigate a chaotic situation. The reasons why they would do this, I do not know. But French authority statements equating well-behaved supporters to football hooligans, based solely the fact many come from the same country as the d***head England fans we see rioting at every football tournament, suggests they were preparing for a fight and likely disappointed not have encountered one as we made our way to the ground. A look at the Gendarmerie instagram feed shows an organisation seeking to be a fighting, not peacekeeping force.

Getting to my seat in the upper tier of section Z, the lack of stewards and police coordination in the ground was clear. The upper tier was largely empty just prior to kick off as fans were funnelled into the lower tier. It was overcrowded and we’re all too aware of what that could have meant had it continued. I believe one of the main factors stopping a crush in the lower tier was due to the seating layout, which prevented serious surges, as would have likely happened in the standing days.

Liverpool, as mentioned, have sought footage from fans. If you were there, or indeed at the fan zone in the city, where policing was said to be similarly heavy-handed, but largely overlooked, and have footage of the chaos to share, it would be wise to contact Liverpool FC.

Fans were also subjected to muggings and violence from local youths, who should never have been able to get near the stadium if a proper ticket check cordon was implemented. But they were there, waiting for our arrival.

Liverpool, have also provided details to attendees who submitted the feedback forms for the club’s investigation, advising that they could not be used as witness statements, but have encouraged supporters who were victims of crime in the vicinity of the State de France, to report it as soon as possible to the French authorities.

If you do, provide footage where possible, and make sure you keep copies of everything you submit. As has been revealed in recent days, a significant portion of the footage gathered by the French police has been lost since the game.

Finally, if you were at the game and are still experiencing difficulties, reach out to others. YNWA really should mean YNWA. In the days since the game, there has been a great deal of support offered by fans and supporter groups through social media. If you need it, there’s no shame in getting help.

YNWA