Uefa bears “primary responsibility” for the chaotic scenes that nearly resulted in a mass fatality before last year’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris, according to an independent report commissioned by the European football governing body.
The report into the disorder outside the Stade de France on 28 May 2022 described the incident as a “near miss” that “almost led to disaster”, adding that it was “remarkable no one lost their life”. Kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes as fans were penned into confined areas and subjected to tear gas and pepper spray by French police.
“The panel has concluded that Uefa, as event owner, bears primary responsibility for failures which almost led to disaster,” the report stated. “Uefa was at the wheel.”
In the immediate aftermath of the final, Uefa and French authorities blamed ticketless Liverpool supporters for the chaos. However, the report found “no evidence” to support those claims, describing them as “reprehensible”.
Key Failures Identified
The investigation highlighted eight critical failings that contributed to the dangerous situation, including:
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A disproportionately large number of Liverpool supporters being directed to the Stade de France Saint-Denis train station
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Poor route planning between the station and the stadium
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Inadequate ticket-checking systems and entry mechanisms
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Large groups of local youths gaining access to the stadium without proper control
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A failure by police to effectively manage these groups
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The use of tear gas and pepper spray in overcrowded concourses
While the report acknowledged “contributory fault” by other bodies, including the French police and the French Football Federation, it concluded that Uefa failed to maintain adequate oversight of stadium security.
“Uefa should have retained a monitoring and oversight role to ensure everything worked. It self-evidently did not,” the report added.
Liverpool Fans Prevented Worse Outcome
The panel also noted that the collective behaviour of Liverpool supporters likely prevented a more serious tragedy.
“It is probable that the calm and solidarity shown by supporters was instrumental in avoiding more serious injuries or deaths,” the report said.
The investigation was chaired by Portuguese politician Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues and included experts in policing, law, event management, and fan representation.
“The enthusiasm around the game rapidly turned into a real near miss,” Dr Rodrigues said. “This should never have happened at such an important sporting event, and it is unacceptable that it occurred at the heart of Europe.”
The report issued 21 recommendations aimed at ensuring similar incidents never occur again and warned French authorities that the findings should serve as a “wake-up call” ahead of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Painful Parallels with Hillsborough
For many Liverpool supporters, the incident evoked traumatic memories of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, where 97 fans lost their lives due to overcrowding at an FA Cup semi-final.
“The parallels between Hillsborough 1989 and Paris 2022 are palpable,” the report stated, noting that both disasters were preventable and caused by failures of those responsible for public safety.
The attempt to blame Liverpool fans in Paris was heavily criticised, particularly given the history of false accusations following Hillsborough, which were formally dismissed by an inquest in 2016.
Uefa Apologises and Promises Refunds
Following the publication of the report, Uefa issued a formal apology and announced plans for a special refund scheme for affected fans.
“I would like to apologise most sincerely to the supporters of Liverpool,” said Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis. “For the experiences many of them had and for the messages released that unjustly blamed them for the delayed kick-off.”
Reaction from Liverpool and Supporters
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said the findings fully vindicated supporters.
“Fans who travelled to Paris expecting the night of their lives were put in harm’s way by those meant to protect them,” he said. “The organisation and policing were based on flawed intelligence and prejudice.”
Liverpool FC expressed disappointment that the report’s conclusions were leaked to the media before being shared with the club, while supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly criticised the handling of the release as insensitive.
What Happened on the Night
Supporters were advised to arrive early, with gates opening at 18:00 local time. However, fans reported severe congestion and lack of movement at checkpoints hours before kick-off.
At 20:55, Uefa announced the match would be delayed for “security reasons”. French police later deployed pepper spray, causing panic, distress, and medical emergencies among fans.
The match eventually kicked off at 21:36.
French ministers initially blamed Liverpool supporters and local youths, claims which were later contradicted by police union officials and now fully dismissed by the independent report.
Liverpool lost the final 1–0, but the events outside the stadium have since become one of the most serious safety failures in modern European football history.
