UEFA have belatedly apologised to Liverpool for the distress their fans suffered before the Champions League final.
European football’s governing body made the concession six days since supporters faced traumatic scenes outside the Stade de France turnstiles.
Many were pepper sprayed by overzealous police officers marshalling the gates in Paris, where the disarray caused a 35-minute delay to kick-off.
Responding to the hold-up, UEFA displayed a message on the stadium’s screens falsely claiming that Reds’ followers had arrived late to the match.
That allegation was compounded by further mistruths, which were repeated by French ministers, that thousands of fans turned up holding fake tickets.
Crucially, UEFA’s statement on Friday only came hours after Real Madrid confirmed its own fans had experienced similar issues before the game.
A statement read: “UEFA wishes to sincerely apologise to all spectators who had to experience or witness frightening and distressing events in the build-up to the UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France on 28 May 2022 in Paris, on a night which should have been a celebration of European club football.
“No football fan should be put in that situation, and it must not happen again.”
An independent review into the chaos has also been launched but Anfield chiefs queried the choice of Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues as lead investigator.
The ex-Portuguese MP previously worked closely with Tiago Craveiro, head of the country’s football association who became an adviser to UEFA this year.
Liverpool fans’ group Spirit of Shankly, similarly, have questioned his integrity.
“His credentials to undertake this role are unclear and we don’t know whether he is up to the job or how independent he really is, as there has been no consultation nor clarification of his previous experience,” a spokesperson told The Guardian.
“In order for the record to be set straight, the investigation needs to be rigorous, swift and firmly independent. It needs proper scope and access to all relevant evidence, and it needs to be open and transparent.”