Following UEFA’s “sincere apology” to supporters after the events at the Champions League final, Liverpool fans insisted “there is still a long way to go.”
On Friday evening, six days after the chaos outside the Stade de France and across Paris, UEFA issued an apology to fans of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
In short, UEFA apologised for the “frightening and distressing events in the buildup” to the final, while vowing to engage with all parties as “it must not happen again.”
There was, however, no mention of the blaming of fans – and specifically Liverpool fans – for the delayed kickoff, claiming at the time it was due to “late arrivals,” nor the violence after full-time and at the fan zone on the Cours de Vincennes.
While an investigation is ongoing with French authorities, this “sincere” apology – which came almost a week after the events and only upon complaint from Real – merely skirts over the wider issues.
Statements blaming Liverpool supporters are still live on UEFA’s official website and social media feeds, with many fans taking to Twitter to criticise a feeble apology.
This is a start, but there is still a long way to go. This apology does’t cover the false message about the late kick off, events at the fan park, or what happened in the aftermath.
If you haven’t already, please make sure to share your story on the LFC Forum & with Phil Scraton https://t.co/NtCC8x9xcH— Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) June 3, 2022
Your apology means nothing, as long as your initial lies and accusations remain on your website & social media – they must be withdrawn immediately! https://t.co/ChWm3xiwMv
— Spirit of Shankly (@spiritofshankly) June 3, 2022
Any chance UEFA might admit they were wrong for blaming fans – Liverpool fans – for being late when they were not?
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) June 3, 2022
What about this? And what about what happened after the game? https://t.co/27gc0XBiyD pic.twitter.com/9ohuQR01X9
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) June 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/RahulKohli13/status/1532777037852594177
1st stance: LFC fans were late
2nd stance: Loads of fake tickets
3rd stance (6 days later): We apologise. https://t.co/6sVjUfsDxj— Natalie Pirks (@Natpirks) June 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/KellyCates/status/1532772616314003458
What about the sincere apology for the lies about fans broadcast around the world – during and after the game – stemming from UEFA?
What about what happened *after* the game, and how people were treated then? https://t.co/pOi4Ru9MKp
— Gareth Roberts (@robbohuyton) June 3, 2022
Also, note the lack of apology for originally pointing the finger at Liverpool supporters? https://t.co/0EZkKRd9io
— Andy Heaton (@Andrew_Heaton) June 3, 2022
This says nothing about blaming it on late arrivals when all the evidence around them told them that was untrue. They lied and are not apologising for that lie. Fuck them and fuck their competition. pic.twitter.com/2Ls9yLszuV
— Karl (@TheCenci) June 3, 2022
How about taking some responsibility for immediately putting the blame on fans for arriving late, despite them arriving several hours before kick-off and not being allowed in? https://t.co/whKnczEQ29
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) June 3, 2022
Sorry for saying fans were late when they were outside the ground getting tear gas thrown at them or accusing fans for using fake tickets or…… https://t.co/kvfQkYt2Pq
— Gaz L (@Stelleruk1) June 3, 2022
Apology noted but where is the apology for blaming the late arrival of fans????? https://t.co/4xj78vhKn2
— Jay (@Jay82_LFC) June 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/lfc_HomeSpares/status/1532768268154445826
Still no apology for blaming our fans being late shove it
— Anthony (@dickson87) June 3, 2022
‘Due to the late arrival of this apology, ill take this apology with a pinch of salt until the findings of this investigation are published’
Apologise for the message you wrongfully portrayed of us before a ball was kicked, that should be the start of any investigation! https://t.co/tEaDffu6nL
— ****** (@iphobin) June 3, 2022
Why only the build up? What about fans being robbed off and beaten up post game? What about shamelessly blaming the Liverpool fans by displaying the lie at the stadium that they came late? What about spreading the lie that post game that 40000 LFC fans had a fake ticket? https://t.co/UFuUx5FWYr
— Nikhil ?? ? (@ranjan_rants) June 3, 2022
It is remarkable that those within UEFA still do not seem to grasp the severity of the situation, nor the ferocity with which fans of both Liverpool and Real Madrid have contested the fake narrative surrounding the night.
An apology is certainly a step in the right direction, but given it barely scratched the surface it is not going to make the issue go away for UEFA or the French authorities.
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