Topic: Champions League Final in Paris 28.5.2022

[bornandbRED]

There are the odd blags and people who jib into every game, irrespective of club - especially finals… anyone who goes to the game knows that. It has nothing to do with the complete shit show from the French authorities, who would have instigated a disaster either way.

[Wabaloolah]

Yeah totally agree mate, just meant in terms of if any images/videos of that kind of thing getting out on social media etc. fans of other clubs/some media would be on it straight away and try to tarnish our reputation, and would get all of the focus rather than the disgraceful organisation by UEFA and the French Police

French Interior Minister has come out and said 30-40k tried entering without tickets, absolute bollocks and hopefully that is squashed as soon as possible.

it wouldn't be the first time, as we as a club know, that the authorities implement Operation Cover Our Arses, I genuinely can't believe they are trying this shit again.

Utterly disgraceful that the season's showpiece is proving that UEFA couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.

We are fortunate that we didn't witness another Hillsborough

[PaulKS]

We are fortunate that we didn't witness another Hillsborough

Absolutely, closing the fucking turnstiles was absolutely unbelievable, I went out for a piss about an hour before the game and saw it, couldn't believe what I was seeing. Hope everyone that was caught up in that was OK, must've been terrifying

The atmosphere in our end behind the goal was horrible during the delay, the feeling that something seriously wrong was happening was awful

[red_Mark1980]

I get it mate and sound a bit like 84. But think Tony means it's enough to say there were local youth causing problems, no need to comment on their background. Otherwise it can come across like we're being racist, and I know you're not.


Personally, I haven't got anything against them if they were young lads who've been to most matches and have been hard done by a shit allocation. If I'd have been there and I was 25 years younger I might have had a go myself. You can never foresee shit like this happening due to 30 of our fans trying their luck. And saying "after everything the clubs been through", none of that was caused by a few people trying to bunk in.

Even if 200 tried to bunk in, it's no excuse for UEFA or the French. It's shit and UEFA should be held to account, but they'll wash their hands of it like usual.

If there was promotion / relegation system to the ESL, I'd be all up for fucking them off altogether.

And didn't mean to pick apart your post mate, I can relate to it.

Its not racist. Its a description of who was there.

We as a fan base also need to pack this bunking in shit in.

It stinks and it absolutely doesn't help. Saturday was easily the worst football experience of my life.

The police did nothing to help, the stewards were a shambles and the (insert what explanation of locals you like) were a massive part of the problem.

The actions of parts of our fan base didn't help. I must have seen three or four fights breaking out between Liverpool fans and when the "bunk" started in gate A. It wasn't solely locals.

We all want to get into the game. But it's not on, and it needs to stop

[Alan_X]

Same story as most others on here:

Left fanzone in plenty of time, but the closest metro was shut, so had to walk back to Nation. Easy enough getting back to the ground; got there just before 18:20, to hoardes of Madrid blocking the paths.

No signs or direction, so ended up queuing for what turned put to be the security check by the underpass - mostly Madrid. Bemused locals wandering through with bikes, and at one point, our bit of the queue veered off to the left and we ended up by the canal, so had to go back and do it again. Dangerously packed round there.

Walked pretty much straight round to Y where a lad was pinned down by police for trying to snatch a woman's ticket. Everyone pretty calm at this point, and the queue was moving. Then there was a bit of pushing and shoving at the front, so they shut the gates, but they closed inwards, so had to try and push everyone back to get them closed, with lots either trying to stop them, or unable to get out the way. Gates stayed closed 20 minutes without a y communication.

Same thing happened about half an hour later, but they were closed for around 45 minutes. Kick off was approaching, people were get wound up / upset as we weren't told anything.

Few somehow climbed the fence and some turned up from X and tried to jump to the front. Quite a few locals in amongst all that, so arguments started.

At the same time, loads seem to form a second queue to the front, so it was bedlam. Some at the front pulled a gate open, when we were about 5 metres away, and that's when the tear gas came out. Kids, women, old folk caught up in it, but we couldn't get out or in. People were in tears, couple had panic attacks, one lad taken by on a stretcher, unconscious.

No-one gave us any info about the delayed kick off, so people were getting wound up, but when they finally opened one gate, everyone pretty much self policed. Got in just in time for KO, but loads of seats were empty for the whole game. Quite a somber atmosphere, with loads just sitting, dazed.

Similar after, with poor lighting and signage, and to get back to our carpark near the metro, we had to walk to the Madrid end. There were loads of locals climbing the fences, few scraps, few knives, and hundreds of others running towards the ground. Through the underpass and to the metro was awful, with very aggressive locals lining either side of the narrow path, intimidating for the old folk, kids and everyone really.

Also a few charges with everyone running off in panic. No sign of police until we got to the metro, and they were just stood around watching. Woman at the carpark described it as being like The Purge.

It was a proper horrid experience from start to finish. No interest in another like that, and glad i didnt bring my daughter. Hope everyone got out alright.

What Metro station did you go to? The canal is at the Madrid end. 

[Alan_X]

Its not racist. Its a description of who was there.

We as a fan base also need to pack this bunking in shit in.

It stinks and it absolutely doesn't help. Saturday was easily the worst football experience of my life.

The police did nothing to help, the stewards were a shambles and the (insert what explanation of locals you like) were a massive part of the problem.

The actions of parts of our fan base didn't help. I must have seen three or four fights breaking out between Liverpool fans and when the "bunk" started in gate A. It wasn't solely locals.

We all want to get into the game. But it's not on, and it needs to stop

I agree that it should stop but it's the same at every game but not every game descends into the chaos we saw on Saturday. The excuses at Hillsborough were the same that are being used by the French authorities and they are as irrelevant now as they were then.

If the response to Saturday is that everyone should behave and there shouldn't be fake tickets that's cloud cuckoo land. Forged tickets and bunking in have been around for decades - that's why there are turnstiles. It's the job of the authorities and the police to make it safe for the rest of us. There were people trying to bunk in around me at the FA Cup final but it was handled properly and it didn't affect the rest of us.

The responsibility for safety at the match is with the organisers.

[ooter1]

https://xcancel.com/Mogsey2005/status/1531282627969179649?t=MYzm6sO8FLua3DLAGaH97A&s=19

[red_Mark1980]

I'm not saying we can eradicate it. We have to stop romanticising it.

Its not big and it's not clever. Whether you are 16 or 66 it shouldn't be something we as a fan base praise

[TeddyTime33]

I'm not saying we can eradicate it. We have to stop romanticising it.

Its not big and it's not clever. Whether you are 16 or 66 it shouldn't be something we as a fan base praise

agreed but it can be properly managed by the authorities too so that people without tickets can't get anywhere near the turnstiles

[DangerScouse]

I'm not saying we can eradicate it. We have to stop romanticising it.

Its not big and it's not clever. Whether you are 16 or 66 it shouldn't be something we as a fan base praise

Couldn't agree more, it's shithouse behaviour.

[DangerScouse]

Who could forget the c*nts doing it in Athens and the shit they caused for the rest of us.

[Bill Lacey]

I never saw any LFC fans trying to bunk in or climb gates. It was all those French local lads who were hanging around in gangs everywhere blocking the entrances and getting into congested situations trying to nick phones or tickets.

[UntouchableLuis]

I never saw any LFC fans trying to bunk in or climb gates. It was all those French local lads who were hanging around in gangs everywhere blocking the entrances and getting into congested situations trying to nick phones or tickets.

It was predominantly locals from what I saw.

But there were definitely scousers in the ground who didn't have tickets. We saw them.

It doesn't excuse the sheer piss poor and dangerous organisation from UEFA and the French but one day you might get lucky in a ballot, pay a shit load for your ticket and travel, turn up at your seat and be denied entry as someone else is already in It. It's as simple as that. If you don't get a ticket you have to accept it and watch it from home or come along and watch in a local bar.

[red_Mark1980]

I never saw any LFC fans trying to bunk in or climb gates. It was all those French local lads who were hanging around in gangs everywhere blocking the entrances and getting into congested situations trying to nick phones or tickets.

I'm not denying what anyone saw. But the shit show at Gate A wasn't solely locals.

[bornandbRED]

If there’s one thing we can ascertain from that weekend… it’s that France is seriously fucked. Hard to believe it’s only a 2 hour train from London. There are bits which you would find more reminiscent of Mogadishu than a European capital. 

[red_Mark1980]

If there’s one thing we can ascertain from that weekend… it’s that France is seriously fucked. Hard to believe it’s only a 2 hour train from London. There are bits which you would find more reminiscent of Mogadishu. 

Paris has long had it's issues. Feels like the stadium is in a fucked up place.

Was moody as soon as we got off the train after having basically no issues (aside from the ridiculous way the police organised entry and exit from the fan zone)

[Luke 17]

I went to PSG away few seasons ago an felt very safe. It was an enjoyable trip. This was the polar opposite.

[RedSue]

I went to PSG away few seasons ago an felt very safe. It was an enjoyable trip. This was the polar opposite.

Agree, same police and always looking for a reason but with less supporters no problems getting in or out.  Thinking about whether I want to do a final again as too many of our ‘supporters’ think they have a right to get into the ground.  Fakes were being sold for €50 beforehand and that just means you are on edge going in.  Might just go all the matches to the final in future as good atmosphere and less hassle.

[BigRed07]

I never saw any LFC fans trying to bunk in or climb gates. It was all those French local lads who were hanging around in gangs everywhere blocking the entrances and getting into congested situations trying to nick phones or tickets.

For what it’s worth I saw local French lads bunking in over the fence and Liverpool fans bunking in. A group of Liverpool fans in front of me in the stadium were openly bragging about some of them bunking in. These people add to the problem. Doesn’t change the fact that the organization from uefa/police and local authority was inadequate.

[TeddyTime33]

For what it’s worth I saw local French lads bunking in over the fence and Liverpool fans bunking in. A group of Liverpool fans in front of me in the stadium were openly bragging about some of them bunking in. These people add to the problem. Doesn’t change the fact that the organization from uefa/police and local authority was inadequate.

of course there was red trying to bunk but we are talking very small groups of people who wouldn't be rushing turnstiles in big groups like the locals did

[pl_kop_1969]

I'm not saying we can eradicate it. We have to stop romanticising it.

Its not big and it's not clever. Whether you are 16 or 66 it shouldn't be something we as a fan base praise

Exactly, the fake tickets and Liverpool fans bunking in didn't happen in large enough numbers to be the cause of the problems, that's solely down to horrific mismanagement by authorities. What the posts on Twitter etc of people selling fakes, stating they were going to try and bunk in do is let those same authorities set the narrative. They were woefully inefficient at the match but they are expert at getting their story out quick and you only have to see the number of people posting screenshots of a few people bragging they bunked in as evidence it was all Liverpool fan's fault to see it's effective.

[PaulKS]

Encourage everyone to read this thread on Twitter, of an experience from a RM fan:

https://xcancel.com/honor1982/status/1530865943966101504?s=21&t=5AvpbO48lO4ns0ReOJEM1A

Very similar to what we experienced, and actually even looks worse at the turnstiles with all the "locals" climbing the gates

But there was no issues at the Madrid end was there... 

[stonecold_jpm]

Absolute disgrace that was closing all the turnstiles not letting anyone in an hour before kick off. Couldn’t even leave my sister to get into Z on her own with it all so had to scam both of us into X with my uefa mobile ticket I’d paid well over the odds for. Got Cuts, bruises, battoned, tear gassed the works for it all as there was loads of Madrid and locals who couldn’t get in there either. There’s no way they all had tickets either, and it was them who was lobbing bottles at the police who responded with the tear gas but we will get the blame for everything.

Now I have c*nt rival fans quoting me all over twitter accusing me of getting in with fake tickets when we had two genuine tickets and it was merely a case of pleading with the steward on gate X to let us both in there showing them both my mobile ticket and her paper ticket cos Z was closed and I wasn’t prepared to leave my small sister on her own outside in all that chaos after we had already been sprayed and hit out at with battons. Another steward then checked our tickets and a woman police officer in front of us at the turnstile said to let us go. Once we’d had bag checked we went to the side gate and showed her ticket and they let us both into our end without any hassle. Empty seats all around the lower tier all game we could see from the front row.

[pl_kop_1969]

I never saw any LFC fans trying to bunk in or climb gates. It was all those French local lads who were hanging around in gangs everywhere blocking the entrances and getting into congested situations trying to nick phones or tickets.

There definitely were some but no large numbers. I was right at the back of C so could see the crush that burst through (I think) gate B. The vast majority of those that looked like Liverpool fans, when they spilled through the gates stood still or walked slowly not wanting to get pounced on by stewards and police. The vast majority of those making a run for it looked like the local youngsters but there were a few clear Liverpool fans who took the opportunity as well.

[pl_kop_1969]

Encourage everyone to read this thread on Twitter, of an experience from a RM fan:

https://xcancel.com/honor1982/status/1530865943966101504?s=21&t=5AvpbO48lO4ns0ReOJEM1A

Very similar to what we experienced, and actually even looks worse at the turnstiles with all the "locals" climbing the gates

But there was no issues at the Madrid end was there... 

The stories of large numbers of locals in the Madrid end start to explain the shitshow at the Liverpool end. The Real fans were there earlier, as the fanzone was so close. So the bunk at that end, by the locals, took the police and stewards by surprise. They decided they needed to prepare for the same thing and their plan was the ridiculous kettling and bottlenecks.

They are now lying through their teeth to avoid admitting they cocked up twice, once letting hu numbers bunk into the RM end and then causing dangerous chaos at the Liverpool end in repsonse.

[Red Tattoo]

I am a Paris based French Liverpool supporter and I want to let you all know that what happened at the Stade de France and the lies that have followed by the Interior minister and the police authorities are an absolute disgrace. They're using you as scapegoats, to try to hide their own failures and mistakes

It really is a shame for our country.

I was not at the stadium, but I went to the fan zone in the afternoon and stayed in the area to watch the game on tv. It was so nice to be with so many joyful fellow Liverpool supporters during the day that, by contrast, it ads to my sadness regarding the disgrace which has followed.

The only sunshine in that dark sky is that Darmanin is being heavily criticized for the failures of his police and for his disgusting lies by journalists, university scholars or members of supporters unions, no one is buying his lies and his name is all over the news, but not for reasons he will like.

[jillc]

For what it’s worth I saw local French lads bunking in over the fence and Liverpool fans bunking in. A group of Liverpool fans in front of me in the stadium were openly bragging about some of them bunking in. These people add to the problem. Doesn’t change the fact that the organization from uefa/police and local authority was inadequate.

There was also a fan boasting about getting his father in on twitter which naturally was being pounced on by all those anti-Liverpool people on there. It will be something that will happen in every event like this unfortunately.

[Redbonnie]

Everything said here will be quoted and used by UEFA and the French Police. I was actually with a Tory councillor who was appalled and we saw no bad behaviour from fans all day. No doubt Liverpool will be blamed for this and our fans will be at risk of even worse treatment moving forwards. There is an edginess developing around football again that reminds me of the eighties but it was not coming from our fans on Saturday. The atmosphere all day was great and the Real fans were also in a happy mood. Thank God we had such well behaved fans on both sides or people would have died at that shithole ground.

[deanloco9]

For what it’s worth I saw local French lads bunking in over the fence and Liverpool fans bunking in. A group of Liverpool fans in front of me in the stadium were openly bragging about some of them bunking in. These people add to the problem. Doesn’t change the fact that the organization from uefa/police and local authority was inadequate.

Typical sense of entitlement behaviour that, bet he stands in someone's seat too

Needs to be some rules such as if you attempt or enter a stadium without a ticket you'll be banned for life due to health & safety, then it becomes a criminal matter if you trespass.

Photo ID or even Face Recognition is the way forward.

[RainbowFlick]

Credit to our fans for being so patient and thoughtful, this could've been way worse. We need to ensure this doesn't happen again.

My PMs are open if anyone needs a chat by the way. I've personally found just writing about my experiences for my own records (and sharing shortened versions to LFC / Phil Scraton) to be useful in some form of catharsis. Somehow ended up at 5000 words and I'm still having the odd flashback - and I'm someone who narrowly missed the worst of the police brutality.

[deanloco9]

Shambolic organisation from the French as per every single event that is held in that country.

[red_Mark1980]

Typical sense of entitlement behaviour that, bet he stands in someone's seat too

Needs to be some rules such as if you attempt or enter a stadium without a ticket you'll be banned for life due to health & safety, then it becomes a criminal matter if you trespass.

Photo ID or even Face Recognition is the way forward.

One of the many issues is once they got the ticket checks at the gates back under way after closing all but one gate, anyone without a ticket or with a fake was just being sent out into the mass of people still "queuing" to get in.

I don't understand how they weren't detained or at least thrown out through a different place. Sending them back out just caused more aggro with Reds asking to see their ticket (most of them couldn't manage a word of English)

[Dagro]

One of the many issues is once they got the ticket checks at the gates back under way after closing all but one gate, anyone without a ticket or with a fake was just being sent out into the mass of people still "queuing" to get in.

I don't understand how they weren't detained or at least thrown out through a different place. Sending them back out just caused more aggro with Reds asking to see their ticket (most of them couldn't manage a word of English)

This was our experience at gate B at 7.20, when we got to the gate. People stormed the gates and turnstiles, those that got tackled and caught by the security were just pushed back through the gate. Not arrested or detained, so they could try again later.

[kesey]

Me dad got lucky , very lucky.

He says that he left the ground with about 10 minutes left ( I know ) and wanted to take the route he knew but the bizzies wouldn't let him. So he sticks his scarf and hat inside his fleece. As he's walking he spots about 200 of the locals and decided to chance it ( proper 3 Para B Coy that ) . He says that after about 30 yards a few of them got on his case going for his pockets and one of them had a blade. He goes ah fuck this if I'm going down I'll take one of youse with me ( proper 3 Para B Coy again ) he says that he couldn't land a dig and was kicked between his shoulder blades and ended up on the deck getting kicked . He gets up thinking I'm fucked here and his instincts were to get back to the bizzies. He says he got whipped up and took afew more kicks so he gets up again and was pulled back and says he back handed him and got out . He goes to the bizzies who threw in tear gas and battoned them . He then says it was scary for about an hour or so but managed to find a bar with a few reds in and someone charged his phone for him so he could get the name of his hotel. He's 73 for fucksake.

Iam not sure if I posted on here but have told loads of mates that Saint - Denis is one rough gaff as I was there for a bit in 2011. I think the crime rate is 31% above the national average.  I spoke to him earlier and he says he's sound but the curry he had on the ferry has fucked him more.

[red_Mark1980]

This was our experience at gate B at 7.20, when we got to the gate. People stormed the gates and turnstiles, those that got tackled and caught by the security were just pushed back through the gate. Not arrested or detained, so they could try again later.

7:20? Christ. Then it happened in gate B again maybe about 8:50 after we'd got through gate A.

An absolute nightmare scenario

[Pinehurst Alan]

The stories of large numbers of locals in the Madrid end start to explain the shitshow at the Liverpool end. The Real fans were there earlier, as the fanzone was so close. So the bunk at that end, by the locals, took the police and stewards by surprise. They decided they needed to prepare for the same thing and their plan was the ridiculous kettling and bottlenecks.

They are now lying through their teeth to avoid admitting they cocked up twice, once letting hu numbers bunk into the RM end and then causing dangerous chaos at the Liverpool end in repsonse.

I would challenge that view. I have a photo which shows the Madrid end at 7pm. It was sparse- about as populated as the Liverpool end. From what we know the kettling started 45 mins before that. All we saw bunking at the Liverpool end (note all appeared to be local lads) legged it straight into the stands. In short I don’t believe that the kettling was in response to what had happened at the Madrid end.

[Thomas]

Highlight of the day was seeing Big Zuu getting abuse as he walked round the outside of the pitch prior to kick off. The rest was shite.

Fan park just a contrived, over complicated, poorly organised version of Madrid with 10000's more people. It's just become a pop concert now. Shite.

The stadium, police, organisation was a shambles. Paris is the toilet of Europe. Utterly shite day. Maybe the days of European Finals as a travelling Red have been and gone.

[RainbowFlick]

Highlight of the day was seeing Big Zuu getting abuse as he walked round the outside of the pitch prior to kick off. The rest was shite.

Fan park just a contrived, over complicated, poorly organised version of Madrid with 10000's more people. It's just become a pop concert now. Shite.

The stadium, police, organisation was a shambles. Paris is the toilet of Europe. Utterly shite day. Maybe the days of European Finals as a travelling Red have been and gone.

Not really sure why Big Zuu is getting the front for stick that should be directed at UEFA/FA and the Club. He has hospo at Anfield when he goes. The guy is an influencer/millionaire, of course he'll be at the biggest matches and often get free tickets from sponsors or at Wembley pays for hospo - he's only a symptom of the wider problem. Abusing him isn't going to solve that.

I don't agree with the way he's been using tickets to gain followers, but it was nice to see a disabled supporter get to go to the FA Cup Final with him in a premium hospo seat.

[Alf]

Saturday was the 7th time I've watched us in France, the only trouble I'd seen previously was people being tear gassed in Nice by the CRS, the night before we played at Monaco in 2004 & I'm not certain that was football supporters involved. Earlier that year we'd played in Marseille in the UEFA Cup, the authorities there seemed convinced they'd be trouble due to what happened with the England fans during the World Cup 98. Their wasn't any, Liverpool supporters & England fans are like chalk & cheese. So what happened at Wembley for the Final of Euro 2020 is irrelevant.

Also nobody forced Paris to take the final at 3 months notice. We've been in 3 finals in 5 years, so saying they only had 3 weeks to plan for us being there is ludicrous. I've no doubt Chelsea & Man City would have had similar problems to what we encountered.

I've never seen any trouble between us & Real Madrid supporters, not in Kiev 4 years ago, home & away in 2009 & 2014, or when we played at Atletico in 2008 or 2020 or the 2019 Final.

Using waist high tripods & multiple check points, opposed to full height turnstiles at Wembley. Saw 66% of the footfall we had for the FA Cup Final a fortnight before take up to 2.5 hours longer to enter the stadium. When you buy a ticket for a Champions League final & spend a small fortune, it shouldn't be a lottery whether you get in or not & you shouldn't be left sweating whether you get in for kick off.

[ScubaSteve]

I dreamt about what happened last night. It’s been a couple of days now but I think about it a lot. I’ve not had time to think about the football itself, after the events that led to getting into the ground, the result doesn’t really matter right now. I’m staying away from most of the social media platforms. What a mess it was, looking forward to getting the chance to get to another European away game one day so I can wipe some of those memories away!!