Tear gas 'put Liverpool fans at risk' at 2022 Champions League final

A highly-critical report of the actions of police at the 2022 Champions League final has recommended French authorities change rules governing tear gas use at sporting events.

The indiscriminate use of tear gas against Liverpool fans pressed against the Stade de France’s perimeter fence as dangerous congestion developed due to a crowd control failure was one of the primary complaints by supporters caught up in the Paris mayhem. A report by the Defenseur Des Droits (Defender of Rights), an independent institution which defends the rights of citizens in France, is the latest to exonerate Liverpool fans and blame police for the chaotic scenes which saw kick-off delayed by 36 minutes.

UEFA initially blamed supposedly late-arriving Liverpool fans for the problems. An independent review into what happened at the final said it was "remarkable no one lost their life" and found that UEFA had "primary responsibility" for the safety failures. UEFA later said it welcomed the report's findings and apologised.

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France’s minister of the interior now has two months to respond to recommendations, which include changing rules governing tear gas use at major sporting and cultural events, issuing instructions in languages appropriate to the nationality of those attending and the enabling of police body cameras.

French police argued their actions were designed to prevent ticketless individuals, mainly locals who later assaulted and stole from fans, gaining entry. Defender of Rights Claire Hedon said: "The fact ‘opportunistic crime’ may have been committed cannot justify the indiscriminate use of tear gas on the public."

Ms Hedon added warnings were not given which could be understood by English speakers and the use of tear gas "was absolutely not necessary, nor appropriate… The panic created put people present at risk".

"The Defender of Rights finds that law enforcement officers failed in their duty to protect people and property," added the report by Ms Hedon, who expressed scepticism at the lack of police disciplinary action. She said: "Given the number of testimonies made by the public, criticising the actions of police, questions may be asked about the existence of only two administrative investigations."

Ted Morris, chairman of the Liverpool Disabled Supporters’ Association who was involved in the original complaint, told the PA news agency: "I find it quite astonishing a part of the French government has come down so heavily in terms of football supporters, completely exonerating us."

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