Six days after the chaos at the Champions League final, Uefa apologized to viewers. In addition, the association announced comprehensive clarification.
After the chaos surrounding the Champions League final in Paris, the European football union Uefa “sincerely” apologized to the fans affected. They had to experience or witness frightening and harrowing events on what should have been a celebration of European club football.
“No football fan should be put in such a situation and it must not happen again,” said a Uefa statement on Friday evening.
investigations are ongoing
The police in Paris registered more than 100 arrests and 230 injuries around the final. The European football union Uefa explained the chaos at the entrance to the high number of fans without valid tickets and commissioned an independent investigation report. The police used tear gas. The kick-off time was pushed back by more than half an hour. Fan representatives criticize a one-sided representation of Uefa.
The investigation is led by Portuguese Tiago Brandão Rodrigues. It is hoped that a complete picture and a precise timing of events will be obtained, including the study of spectator flows to the stadium through the various access points.
Reviews should be published
In addition, all relevant operational plans in terms of security, mobility, ticketing, as well as the planning and preparation of the institutions involved to host the final will be examined. Among other things, the fan groups of both clubs as well as the fan association Football Supporters Europe are to be involved.
The review should begin immediately and be completed as soon as possible. After completion, the report will be published “in the interest of transparency by Uefa” on the website of the continental association.