Lawyers representing Liverpool fans involved in the commotion at the Champions League final in Paris last year have legally filed over 900 lawsuits against UEFA.
According to a February study, UEFA was “primarily responsible” for the events that nearly resulted in a “mass fatality disaster” at the championship game last May.
Due to organisational mistakes, fans were forced to line up against the stadium barriers before the match versus Real Madrid. French police subsequently used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
On Monday, the Liverpool District Registry of the High Court received a collective personal injury claim from the law firm Leigh Day on behalf of 887 Reds supporters.
The company is filing the lawsuit on the grounds that UEFA breached its duty to provide a safe and secure environment for attendees and may be liable for any resulting bodily or psychological harm.
Aleksander Ceferin, the head of UEFA, apologised for the disorderly events at the Stade de France last month and expressed his delight that “nothing awful happened.”
The independent investigation, which was released in February, concluded that the major congestion matters outside the stadium were largely the fault of the organisation that governs European football.
At the UEFA Congress in Lisbon on Wednesday, Ceferin also made an apparent reference to his organisation’s involvement in the disruption and promised to draw lessons from it.
He remarked, “We must always remember the mistakes of the past and maintain our humility. “Nothing should ever be assumed.
Unfortunately, leaders can never maintain a “clean sheet,” unlike goalkeepers. No leader, no matter how much they invest, no matter how dedicated, professional, or experienced they are, can boast an impeccable record.
There are usually a few problematic points, a couple of blunders that damage our reputation, and things they would want to fix.
Neither I nor UEFA is distinct from one another. Understanding the error and making changes, not repeating it, is what matters most.
At first, UEFA blamed the crowd for the confusion by showing up late and, in some cases, with fake tickets. The independent study, however, stated that these claims were “manifestly false.”
After admitting the “poor experience,” UEFA launched refunds for people who purchased tickets for the final, which was won by Real Madrid 1-0.
