LFC provides UCL final fan experience testimonies to independent panel

Following events surrounding the Champions League final in Paris on May 28 and the French Senate report on July 13 which found ‘multiple organisation failures’ caused the ‘fiasco’ at Stade de France, Liverpool FC has now handed over supporter testimonials, photographs and video files to the independent panel.

Immediately following events in Paris, the club called for an independent investigation into the issues leading up to and on the evening of the Champions League final in Paris. The club also called for supporters who were in attendance at the game to write in with their lived experiences in order to capture these personal events in words, photographs and, where appropriate, videos.

More than 9,000 supporters took time to write in and put on record their first-hand experiences and more than 8,500 supporters gave the club permission to use their testimonials as part of an investigation. These testimonials have now been handed over to the UEFA independent panel, with all information enabling personal identification having been removed for data protection reasons.

Billy Hogan, chief executive officer at Liverpool FC, said: “I’d like to thank all our supporters who took time to write to us after Paris to tell us their first-hand experiences from that day and night.

“Having read and analysed the testimonials, we know that our supporters suffered harrowing experiences that nobody should have to face going to a football match or any other events. We have analysed the testimonials to pick out recurring themes from the submissions.”

He added: “The purpose of providing an executive summary and the testimonials themselves is to help the independent panel understand that human beings were caught up in the chaos on May 28 and the experience of that day and night will live with them forever.

“We want the independent panel to understand that behind the report and analysis there are real stories of real people who were subjected to some appalling and totally avoidable experiences.”

Eight themes have been identified from the 9,000 testimonials – including congestion at access points, insufficient supporter travel information, significant issues at the outer ticket cordon check areas and inner turnstiles, and excessive riot policing tactics were heavily reported.

Lack of communication to supporters outside of the stadium, the emotional impact of the incorrect reason for delayed kick-off, issues with getting in and out of the stadium and issues exiting the fan park were also identified from the analysis of the testimonials.

The club would like to thank supporters again for the important role they have played by taking the time to submit their testimonies, photographs and videos.