UEFA, the governing body of European football, has announced a refund scheme for Liverpool fans who attended the 2022 Champions League final in Paris.
An investigation revealed a series of organizational failures outside the Stade de France that “almost led to a disaster,” with fans being teargassed by French police and experiencing logistical issues.
The refund scheme covers the entire Liverpool allocation, totalling 19,618 tickets, with fans receiving a full refund. The event’s ticket prices ranged from £59.40 to £585.70.
Liverpool had a say in the decision-making process, having been involved in discussions from the beginning.
The refund is the result of the fans’ mistreatment, which UEFA and the French government initially blamed on them. Both later retracted their statements, and a UEFA-commissioned report praised the fans’ actions while emphasizing the serious consequences of the organizational failures.
Real Madrid fans who did not enter the stadium before the scheduled kickoff time, or at all, will also be eligible for refunds.
Theodore Theodoridis, general secretary of UEFA, emphasized that the scheme was “comprehensive and fair,” taking into account numerous views expressed both publicly and privately.
“We are confident that we have invented a detailed and inclusive refund plan after recognizing a significant number of public and private opinions,” he said.
The UEFA general secretary thanked the Liverpool FC supporter organizations, Spirit of Shankly (SoS) and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (LDSA), as well as the open and candid discussions that took place during this time.
The Liverpool FC supporters’ organizations, Spirit of Shankly and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association, welcomed the decision but urged UEFA to implement all of the independent inquiry’s recommendations.
