Premier League
UEFA Reaches Settlement With Liverpool Fans Over 2022 Champions League Final Incident
UEFA has reached a final settlement with Liverpool supporters who faced distress and injury during the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. The incident, which saw thousands of fans unable to enter the Stade de France, leading to chaos and_ a delayed kick-off, has finally been addressed with a compensation agreement.
The settlement, confirmed by UEFA on Friday, marks a resolution for the fans represented by Pogust Goodhead and_ Bingham Long, who had brought personal injury claims. While the terms of the settlement will remain confidential, it is a step towards acknowledging the challenges faced by the supporters on that fateful day.
An independent report released last year placed primary responsibility on UEFA for the failures that almost resulted in a catastrophic event. The overcrowding outside the stadium, with fans penned in against fences and facing aggression from both local youths and law enforcement, painted a sour picture of the events leading up to the final between Liverpool and_ Real Madrid.
Matt Douglas, a Liverpool fan involved in the claim, shared his harrowing experience, highlighting the trauma and_ lasting impact of the incident.
He expressed, “We left for the game with plenty of time ahead of us. We went to enter the ground at around 3.30 pm and_ noticed most of the gates were closed. When fans shouted and_ tried to communicate with stewards, we were mostly ignored. People kept being let into the gate, and_ it became worrying … a large volume of people with nowhere to go. Things were getting tense, there were kids around us crying, and_ I was seriously worried for my safety.”
Douglas continued, “Once we entered the ground, it got no better, we were hit with the aftermath of teargas, and_ our eyes were stinging. I have suffered what can only be described as PTSD for weeks, I have avoided crowds, and_ I don’t think I’m ready to attend a football match. I certainly will never go to Paris again. UEFA owed a duty of care to the fans, and_ they failed in that duty.”
The legal team representing the claimants, Michael Burke and_ Paul Hudson of Pogust Goodhead, expressed their satisfaction with the settlement, recognizing the importance of the case in seeking justice for the affected fans.
They stated, “We are delighted that fellow supporters of Liverpool Football Club will soon receive compensation for the difficulties and challenges they faced at the 2022 Champions League Final. This was an exceptionally important case and to have played a part in it was a privilege.”
