France’s former Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, has formally apologised to Liverpool fans for the botched security operation at the 2022 UEFA Champions League final in Paris.
The long-awaited apology comes three years after the chaotic scenes at Stade de France, which saw fans trapped in overcrowded bottlenecks and tear-gassed by police.
In an interview aired on YouTube on Monday, Darmanin — now serving as Justice Minister — admitted the authorities mishandled the event and expressed remorse.
“Yes, it was a failure,” Darmanin said. “Because I hadn’t checked what was happening properly, which was my mistake, and because I gave in to preconceived ideas. I apologise to Liverpool fans. Of course they were right to (feel angry).”
The final between Liverpool and Real Madrid was delayed by 37 minutes as fans struggled to enter the stadium. Initial claims by French officials and Darmanin blamed ticketless Liverpool fans for the disorder. He had alleged many supporters arrived without valid tickets, sparking the turmoil.
However, a later French Senate investigation found that the real cause was a breakdown in security and logistics.
Thousands of Liverpool fans were herded into confined spaces and prevented from entering the stadium, with riot police deploying tear gas on the crowd.
UEFA also came under fire for its role in the chaos. An independent report found the governing body bore the “primary responsibility” for the failures that nearly turned the event into a disaster, stating it was “remarkable” no lives were lost.
Despite early efforts by both UEFA and French officials to deflect blame onto fans, evidence eventually pointed to organisational failings and false narratives.
The French Senate described the incident as a result of “poorly-executed security arrangements,” while UEFA’s initial statements blaming late arrivals and fake tickets were debunked.
Real Madrid won the final 1-0.
Darmanin’s admission marks a significant reversal from his earlier stance and could be seen as a step toward closure for many Liverpool supporters who were unfairly blamed and mistreated.
