France’s former interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, has publicly apologised to Liverpool football supporters for the chaos that unfolded during the 2022 UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France, marking a significant shift in the official narrative surrounding the incident. During a recent interview on the Legend YouTube channel, Darmanin, who now serves as France’s justice minister, acknowledged that the security arrangements for the match—held between Liverpool and Real Madrid—were fundamentally flawed.

Reflecting on the event, Darmanin stated, “It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions.” He further admitted, “The scapegoat was easy to find, and I apologise now to Liverpool supporters. They were quite right to be hurt. It was a mistake and a failure.” This represents the first formal acknowledgment from a senior French official regarding the wrongful blame placed on Liverpool fans during and after the chaotic scenes.

During the final, many Liverpool supporters were subjected to tear gas employed by the police, while reports emerged of some fans being mugged by local gangs. Darmanin described the night as “the biggest failure” of his career, emphasising that he misunderstood the nature of the threat at the event. He noted, “What I did not appreciate that evening was that the real problem was not coming from English supporters, but from delinquents who were robbing fans.”

The former minister highlighted the inadequacy of their security measures, stating that they were not equipped to handle the situation effectively. “We had riot police… with big boots and shields—not great for running,” he explained, adding that what was needed were officers in running shoes to address the wave of criminal activity. The comments from Darmanin contrast sharply with his initial response in the wake of the final, where he, alongside Paris police chief Didier Lallement, attributed the dangerous crush of fans at the stadium to Liverpool supporters allegedly in possession of fake tickets. This assertion was later discredited by an independent report commissioned by UEFA.

Darmanin’s apology and the acknowledgment of the failures in security planning mark a significant development in a situation that had sparked widespread outrage among fans and highlighted serious flaws in police response during large-scale events in France.

Source: Noah Wire Services