Liverpool urges UEFA to ensure fans are safe at matches
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool urged European soccer’s governing physique to make sure supporter security is the highest precedence at matches after a report detailed how a “mass fatality catastrophe” was solely narrowly prevented eventually yr’s Champions League remaining involving the English staff.
Liverpool mentioned it welcomed the findings of an investigation panel which exonerated the membership’s followers from any blame amid chaotic scenes that noticed tens of hundreds of supporters — together with aged folks and youngsters — held in more and more crushed strains for hours earlier than largest match in European soccer, which was held on the 75,000-capacity Stade de France.
UEFA had initially blamed Liverpool followers, a few of whom had been fired on by tear fuel by police, for arriving on the stadium late and utilizing pretend tickets to attempt to acquire entry.
Ultimately, the report discovered UEFA ought to bear “primary responsibility for failures which almost led to disaster,” which — for a lot of Liverpool followers — introduced again reminiscences of the tragedy at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 that led to the demise of 97 supporters of the membership.
“We call on UEFA and others at the top of the football regulation pyramid to come together and take positive and transparent action to ensure there are no more `near misses,”’ Liverpool mentioned.
“We implore UEFA to fully enact the recommendations as outlined by the panel — no matter how difficult — to ensure supporter safety is the number one priority at the heart of every UEFA football fixture.”
Liverpool mentioned it was “shocking” that its followers had been topic to such “fundamental safety failings which have had such a devastating impact on so many,” notably in gentle of what occurred at Hillsborough.
“Paris has only exacerbated their suffering,” the membership mentioned
UEFA has pledged to launch a particular refund scheme for followers, and a legislation agency representing greater than 600 Liverpool supporters injured or traumatized by the occasions on the Stade de France mentioned Tuesday it’s pushing ahead with a authorized declare towards the governing physique.
Leigh Day mentioned it’s making the declare on the premise that UEFA “failed to ensure a safe and secure environment for those attending and could owe a legal liability to those who suffered physical and/or psychological injuries.”
Spirit of Shankly, a Liverpool supporters’ group, additionally welcomed the panel’s findings that the membership’s followers weren’t liable for the chaos.
“A breakdown in communication on the day, the failures of UEFA, the French police and authorities were to blame,” the group mentioned. “The shame — beginning with the stadium billboard announcing kickoff was delayed due to fans arriving late, supporters being tear gassed and pepper sprayed, pickpocketed and attacked, people frightened they were going to die — is on them.”
