Liverpool FC fans are pursuing legal action against UEFA for the chaotic events at the 2022 Champions League final.
- Law firm Leigh Day represents over 600 fans claiming psychological and physical injuries due to UEFA’s organisational lapses.
- A leaked UEFA report confirms the organisation’s primary responsibility, prompting calls for more than a refund scheme.
- Eight critical failures by UEFA nearly led to disaster, heightening calls for accountability and compensation.
- Fans describe harrowing experiences, emphasising the need for a substantial legal response and prevention of future incidents.
Liverpool FC supporters who endured traumatic conditions at the Champions League final on 28 May 2022 are taking legal action against UEFA. Advocated by the law firm Leigh Day, more than 600 fans are represented in a claim that highlights the organisational and safety failures attributed to UEFA, resulting in significant distress and injuries among the attendees.
The urgency in Leigh Day’s legal claim is intensified by the UEFA-commissioned 158-page report leaked on 13 February, concluding that UEFA holds ‘primary responsibility’ for the disarray at the Stade de France. Although UEFA has proposed a refund scheme in response, the representatives argue that mere refunds are inadequate given the scope of the failures and the injuries suffered.
The report articulated eight critical shortcomings, including issues with travel, ticketing, management of local gangs, and the use of tear gas—all of which potentially exacerbated the situation. These findings underscore the pressing need for a formal Letter of Claim, which Leigh Day plans to submit imminently, urging for appropriate compensation and accountability measures to be implemented.
Clare Campbell and Jill Paterson, partners at Leigh Day, firmly articulated the necessity for UEFA to acknowledge and amend its central role in the chaos, stressing that compensating affected fans should extend beyond ticket refunds. They highlighted that true accountability involves learning from these failings to ensure such events do not recur, and that those harmed receive due redress.
Testimonies from fans such as Andrew Patterson, a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, reflect the severe impact of the incident. Patterson recounts enduring life-threatening circumstances due to lack of proper health provisions amidst the chaos, exacerbated by his medical condition. Such narratives amplify the call for robust legal action against UEFA to address not only the immediate failures but also the broader implications of negligence.
The legal bid underscores a critical demand for UEFA to assume full responsibility and ensure comprehensive compensation for affected Liverpool fans.
