The 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Saint-Denis was marred by incidents and scenes of violence.
UEFA has decided to compensate spectators who bought their ticket to attend the 2022 Champions League final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on May 28, according to a press release from the European football body published on Tuesday. March 7.
This concerns tickets for gates A, B, C, X, Y and Z as well as all ticket holders who were unable to access the stadium before the kick-off of the 2022 Champions League Final. Liverpool supporters who had purchased their ticket directly from the club, but also Real Madrid supporters who meet the criteria. Ditto for the “neutral” spectators who supported neither Real nor Liverpool and who had bought their ticket directly from UEFA for this match at the Stade de France.
Ten months after the serious incidents and scenes of violence at the Stade de France, the 19,618 holders of tickets marketed directly by the Liverpool club will thus receive a refund corresponding to the price of their place. UEFA will pay Liverpool the full value of these tickets, and the club will then reimburse their supporters. Madrid supporters and other spectators will be reimbursed if they have requested it from UEFA’s customer service before April 7, 2023.
“We recognize the negative experiences these supporters had that day and through this program we will reimburse those supporters who had purchased tickets and who were most affected by the difficulties in accessing the stadium.”explains UEFA. “We have considered a large number of views expressed both publicly and privately and believe we have developed a comprehensive and fair system”continues the European football body, organizer of the final. “UEFA is committed to learning from the events and will work closely with supporter groups, finalist clubs, host associations and local authorities to deliver exceptional finals where everyone can enjoy the game in a safe environment. , secure and welcoming”the statement said.
UEFA had already acknowledged its responsibilities
In February, UEFA reiterated its apology after a report by a group of experts responsible for establishing the responsibilities of the security fiasco of the Champions League final. “UEFA played a central role in the organization of the event and they should have watched, supervised and contributed to the security measures”, argued the experts in particular. The Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin had in the wake of the match incriminated the British supporters, accusing them in particular of having falsified “massively” their tickets. “False stories were peddled in the wake of that night in Paris, statements that have since been completely refuted”had reacted in February the Liverpool club after the publication of the independent report.
After the events, more than 2,000 English supporters notably launched collective legal action against UEFA. A “trauma” for Reds fans still haunted by Hillsborough. “What happened in Paris has reignited the suffering of families, friends and survivors of Hillsborough”, concluded the press release from the Liverpool club. In 1989, a crowd movement caused the death of 97 supporters in the Sheffield stadium.