French Minister Issues Apology to Liverpool Fans Over 2022 Champions League Incident

In a recent interview, France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin expressed regret over the mishandling of security at the 2022 Champions League final, admitting to the failure of accurately assessing the situation and wrongly attributing blame to Liverpool supporters.

In a significant shift in response to the tumultuous events surrounding the 2022 Champions League final held at the Stade de France, Gérald Darmanin, the current French Minister of Justice, extended an official apology to Liverpool football fans. This was his first acknowledgment of the serious misjudgments made during the event, which saw Liverpool supporters wrongly accused of instigating chaos and violence.

Darmanin admitted that the security planning for the match between Liverpool and Real Madrid was seriously flawed, highlighting that his initial comments blaming English fans were misguided. "It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions," he stated in a candid interview on the Legend YouTube channel, marking what he described as the biggest failure of his professional career.

The troubling night for Liverpool fans included instances of police using tear gas to control crowds and reports of supporters being targeted by gangs. Darmanin explained, "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." His comments reflect a recognition that the security measures in place were inadequate to deal with the actual threats that emerged during the event.

Following the match, Darmanin and Paris police chief Didier Lallement initially leveled accusations against Liverpool supporters, claiming they were responsible for a dangerous crush and were largely to blame for the mayhem due to the presence of fake tickets. However, these claims were later refuted by an independent UEFA investigation.

Darmanin's remarks during the interview also touched upon broader issues of public safety in France, stating, "There is no longer any safe place in France," which incited criticism from hard-right political elements who questioned his governance and effectiveness over the years.

National Rally MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy criticized Darmanin's response to rising violence in the country, implying that he was ineffectual in addressing a deteriorating situation.

At the age of 42 and with a political career rooted in the right wing, speculation has arisen regarding Darmanin's ambitions for a presidential role in the future, particularly in potentially running for president in 2027. He did not shy away from conveying his aspirations for a better France, saying, "That does not mean I am going to be a candidate, but it does mean I have ambitions for the country to do better than what I see now."

This apology and reflection on the events of the 2022 Champions League final has reignited discussions about UEFA's responsibility in managing football events and the treatment of fans by security personnel.