Thousands of Liverpool fans could sue UEFA over Champions League chaos

Liverpool fans stuck outside the ground show their match tickets
Fans with genuine tickets were turned away from the final in May as IT systems broke down and police tear gassed fans Credit: PA Images

A law firm is investigating whether to take legal action on behalf of Liverpool fans caught up in the chaos UEFA Champions League final in Paris.

Leigh Day said it looking into the potential claim for individuals who suffered physical or psychological injuries, having been contacted by a number of supporters.

The firm believes as many as 10,000 people could be affected and would be able to join the claim after the chaos on 28 May.

Police Chief apologises for pepper spraying fans - but says it was justified
'I was pepper-sprayed at Champions League final and this can't happen again'
Fans were pepper-sprayed outside of the stadium in Paris ahead of the Champions League final. Credit: PA images

Liverpool-based law firm Binghams Solicitors, in partnership with global group litigation specialists PGMBM, is also helping Reds fans take legal action.

Life-long Liverpool supporter Mattie Douglas, a client of Binghams Solicitors, said he sustained a broken rib and psychological trauma in the French capital.

"I have suffered what can only be described as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) for weeks, I have avoided crowds and I don’t think I’m ready to attend a football match, I certainly will never go to Paris again," the 33-year-old said.

"I have been to probably 30-plus European away games to support Liverpool Football Club. This was the first time I feared for myself and the safety of my mates and fellow supporters."

French police used tear gas and pepper-spray against fans, including young children, with many crushed as they waited to be allowed inside the Stade de France.

France’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin initially suggested the biggest issue had been an influx of supporters with fake tickets.

However, a report by the French Senate found EDS supporters had been unfairly blamed by Darmanin, who it found had wanted “to divert attention from the inability of the state to adequately manage the crowds present”.

Leigh Day intends to bring any claim in England under French law, and it would allege that UEFA failed to ensure a safe and secure environment for those attending the match. 

French Police use pepper spray against fans outside the ground. Credit: PA images

In a statement Leigh Day solicitors says: “Supporters who had paid to watch a football match at the highest level of the game should have been able to expect that robust safety protocols and adequate risk assessments would be put in place by UEFA, sadly this does not appear to be the case.

“We believe UEFA failed to provide a safe and secure environment for those attending and we are investigating their legal liability to those who suffered injuries as a result.

“It was truly shocking to see how Liverpool fans and others who had travelled to watch the Champions League final were treated both at the match and in the aftermath.

“The accounts of their experiences paint a picture of a terrifying situation where people really feared for their lives.”

UEFA appointed Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues to lead a review in the aftermath of the match, which is due to provide its preliminary findings in September.

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