These two supporters of the Liverpool Reds were 52 and 63 years old. Before committing the irreparable, they left no word, no explanation. But for five months, they told those around them the ordeal of the Stade de France and the similarities with Hillsborough, where, in 1989, in this stadium of Sheffield, in the north of England, crowd movements and poor security had caused the death of 97 people.
>> Incidents at the Stade de France: we examined the arguments of the authorities to explain the fiadco of the final of my Champions League
Blocked for hours, attacked by thugs, gassed by the police, thousands of English people went through hell last May in Saint-Denis. Until having to endure these lies of the authorities and the accusations launched against them. The Liverpool fans present were even called hooligans. Testimonies of deep distress, Peter Scarfe who chairs the Hillsborough Victim Support Association has collected dozens since the final in Saint Denis. “These people are seriously considering suicide because of the psychological trauma they have suffered, he points out. If more of them come to see us, will we have to tell them: ‘No! We can’t help you.’ We don’t want to find ourselves in that position. The French authorities really need to look into this and ask themselves: ‘How can we help these people? We created this situation, how can we help them?'”
He himself was not at the Stade de France but he says he could not even watch the match on television. He was overwhelmed with phone calls and messages. Fans who were in Saint-Denis, incredulous and, for some, panicked at the idea of reliving a tragedy. “We were completely overwhelmed within the association, remembers Peter Scarfe. Some fans were terrified, others on the contrary, thanks to their experience, remained very calm and helped everyone.”
“Today we have a support group on WhatsApp for those who are struggling to overcome what happened at the Stade de France.
Peter Scarfat franceinfo
This self-help group now includes 56 people. President of Hillsborough Victim Support Association, Peter Scarfe is not a psychologist, he is just a volunteer. Today, his association is helping eleven supporters in therapy, for whom the trauma of 1989 has come to the surface since the Saint-Denis final. He notices the distress of several others, but he will not be able to do more: the finances of his association do not allow it.