May 7 – Three years after Liverpool supporters were wrongfully vilified for causing chaos at the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final, former French interior minister Gérald Darmanin (pictured) has finally issued a long-overdue apology for his role in the debacle.
In a stunning reversal from his initial finger-pointing, Darmanin – now France’s justice minister – has admitted security arrangements were woefully inadequate, and he bears personal responsibility for the breakdown.
“It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions,” Darmanin confessed. “The scapegoat was easy to find, and I apologise now to Liverpool supporters.
The harrowing reality that emerged in subsequent investigations revealed that legitimate ticket-holding Liverpool fans were systematically ambushed, mugged, and assaulted by local gangs from the Saint-Denis area surrounding the Stade de France. Police exacerbated the situation by deploying tear gas against the very supporters who were victims of these attacks.
Darmanin described the night as the “biggest failure” of his political career – a remarkable admission considering his subsequent promotion to justice minister suggests failing upward remains alive and well in French politics.
“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,” Darmanin explained. “Our security arrangements were not designed for that eventuality. We had riot police… with big boots and shields – not great for running. What you need against that kind of delinquency is officers in running shoes.”
In the immediate aftermath of the match, both Darmanin and police chief Didier Lallement falsely claimed the dangerous crush at the stadium resulted primarily from Liverpool fans presenting counterfeit tickets – an allegation thoroughly debunked by UEFA’s independent investigation.
A group of Liverpool supporters has since received compensation from UEFA after claiming physical injuries and psychological trauma from the events. Both UEFA and the supporters’ legal representatives have agreed to keep the settlement figures confidential, with legal firms confirming their clients had “accepted” and “welcomed” the offer.
For Liverpool supporters who endured not only physical danger but also the indignity of being falsely blamed, this belated apology offers little comfort against the backdrop of a justice minister who failed to deliver justice when it mattered most.
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