French Minister Takes Responsibility for 2022 Champions League Final Incident

In a candid interview, Darmanin acknowledges the security failures at the Stade de France and apologizes to affected supporters, highlighting the need for better preparedness against actual threats.

Former French interior minister Gérald Darmanin has publicly apologized for the turmoil that ensued during the 2022 Champions League final at the Stade de France, where Liverpool FC fans were unjustly blamed for causing a riot. This marks the first time Darmanin has admitted that security measures were inadequate and acknowledges his initial comments pointing fingers at the English supporters were misguided.

The justice minister stated, "It was a failure because I had not foreseen. That was a mistake on my part. I was led astray by my preconceptions." He further expressed regret, saying, "The scapegoat was easy to find, and I apologize now to Liverpool supporters. They were quite right to be hurt. It was a mistake and a failure."

On that fateful night, police employed tear gas against Liverpool fans as they attempted to gain entry to the stadium, leading to reports of violence and muggings orchestrated by local gangs. During his interview on the Legend YouTube channel, Darmanin described the event as "the biggest failure" of his career and clarified, "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."

He elaborated on the security blunder that night, stating, “We got our arrangements wrong. We were expecting a war of (football) hooligans, and what we got instead was muggers.” Initial statements by Darmanin and police chief Didier Lallement, which blamed Liverpool fans for the dangerous crowd surge due to fake tickets, were later debunked by an independent report commissioned by UEFA.

In a noteworthy segment of the interview, Darmanin lamented the rising crime rate across France, asserting that violence has spread even to rural areas, drawing criticism from the hard-right opposition. MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy remarked on Darmanin's prolonged tenure in government and suggested that he was underestimating the French populace with his claims of a national security crisis.

While discussing his future aspirations, Darmanin did not shy away from expressing his ambitions, stating, "Do I think of the presidential election? The answer is yes." Although he stopped short of declaring his candidacy, his comments indicate a longing for better governance in France, indicating his readiness to potentially pursue a higher office in the future.