More than 1,700 Liverpool fans who claim they were hurt or experienced psychological damage as a result of the commotion at the Champions League final in Paris this year are suing UEFA, according to attorneys’ announcement on Friday.
Following the championship game between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris on May 28, the European Football Association (UEFA) is facing action.
Details of the incident
UEFA postponed the game’s start by 35 minutes due to “security concerns,” citing the crush of fans, the use of tear gas, and street criminality. Initial claims by UEFA and the French authorities that Liverpool supporters had been mostly to blame for the trouble by not having proper tickets were refuted by a French Senate investigation.
The investigation instead pointed to a “series of dysfunctions,” which included inadequate planning on the part of the government and UEFA, as well as poorly executed security measures.
Liverpool fans had spoken of “terrifying scenes” at the Stade de France
Clients of the Liverpool legal firm Bingham’s reportedly described “terrifying images” at the Stade de France.
Bingham has joined the international legal firm Pogust Goodhead in a lawsuit alleging negligence on behalf of 1,450 clients, and another law firm, Leigh Day, has also filed a collective action on behalf of 400 additional supporters. According to attorneys, they intend to sue UEFA for negligence over a duty of care they owed to fans who were injured physically and psychologically as well as for breach of contract in ticket sales.
“As a lifelong Liverpool supporter, I was very appalled when I learned how events happened at what should have been the pinnacle of the football season,” said Gerard Long of Binghams to the BBC. “Not only fellow fans, but my friends, family, and clients who were in attendance that day have spoken of the terrifying scenes that surrounded the Stade de France before, and even after, the game.”
Liverpool has gathered 8,500 fan testimonials, together with images and videos, to get an impartial assessment that has been initiated by UEFA.
