French Minister's Apology to Liverpool Fans for 2022 Champions League Chaos

Gérald Darmanin admitted the failures in security arrangements and acknowledged that his initial comments were misleading and incorrect, saying that the root problem stemmed not from fans but from criminals.

In a significant turn of events, Gérald Darmanin, France's justice minister and former interior minister, has publicly apologized to Liverpool football fans for the chaos at the 2022 Champions League final held at the Stade de France. This event, which pitted Liverpool against Real Madrid, was marred by security failures, leading to a dangerous situation for the supporters, and prompting Darmanin's first admission of fault.

During a recent interview, Darmanin confessed that security measures were inadequate and acknowledged that his initial response—blaming English fans for the turmoil—was ill-conceived. "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. He further added, "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 the night of the final, police deployed tear gas against Liverpool supporters, while many fans were also victimized by local gangs. Darmanin termed that evening "the biggest failure" of his career, as he recognized, "the real problem was not coming from English supporters, but from delinquents who were robbing fans."

The minister highlighted that the security preparations were misaligned with the actual threats encountered, saying, "We were expecting a war of (football) hooligans, and what we got instead was muggers." Initially, both Darmanin and police chief Didier Lallement attributed the chaos to Liverpool fans with fake tickets, a narrative later discredited by an independent UEFA report.

In his discussion, Darmanin also expressed concern over rising violence in France, indicating a pervasive insecurity across the nation, which brought criticism from the hard-right political faction. Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a National Rally MP, condemned Darmanin's portrayal of the situation, calling his claims patronizing to the French public, asserting that the government's record is far from satisfactory.

While critiquing France's safety issues, Darmanin did not shy away from discussing his political ambitions. When asked about the 2027 presidential election, he responded, "Do I think of the presidential election? The answer is yes," affirming his desire for the country's improvement amid current troubling conditions.

As the fallout from the chaotic final continues, the apologies and reflections from government officials signal an important moment in reconciling with those affected and addressing systemic security concerns.