Law firm believes up to 10,000 Liverpool fans could join the claim
Law firm Leigh Day is investigating a group claim legal action on behalf of Liverpool FC fans, and others, who attended the UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris on 28 May 2022. “Those who attended the match faced chaos before and after as poor preparation, numerous organisational failings and underlying prejudice culminated in a frightening situation and scenes which caused shock and outrage on a national and international scale,” a Leigh Day statement said. It continued: “A hearing of the French Senate heard that adults and children, including those with disabilities, were herded and indiscriminately tear gassed, and supporters were crushed against barriers and turnstiles which remained closed. In addition, criminal gangs are said to have taken advantage of the disorder to threaten and steal from fans. “Many of those who attended are reported to have suffered physical injuries and many more are thought to have suffered psychological injuries from the incident.” Leigh Day has been contacted by a number of fans and is investigating a potential group claim against UEFA for those living in England and Wales who suffered “physical or psychological injuries” at the football match. Leigh Day believes up to 10,000 people could be affected and would be able to join the claim. In a joint statement, Leigh Day partner Clare Campbell and Jill Paterson, who are leading the legal team investigating the claims, said: “Supporters who had paid to watch a football match at the highest level of the game should have been able to expect that robust safety protocols and adequate risk assessment would be put in place by UEFA, sadly this does not appear to be the case. “We believe UEFA failed to provide a safe and secure environment for those attending and we are investigating their legal liability to those who suffered injuries as a result. “It was truly shocking to see how Liverpool fans and others who had travelled to watch the Champions League final were treated both at the match and in the aftermath. The accounts of their experiences paint a picture of a terrifying situation where people really feared for their lives.”