Before Liverpool’s heavyweight match against Real Madrid, boos reverberated across Anfield as the Reds’ supporters booed the iconic Champions League anthem. Boos could be heard around Anfield in the moments before kickoff on Tuesday night’s highly anticipated replay of the competition’s final from the last season. Outside the stadium, supporters gave Jurgen Klopp’s team an exceptionally warm greeting, although they were outspoken in their hostility to UEFA before the game.
Spion Kop 1906, a group of Liverpool fans, organised banners and displays within the stadium that were critical of UEFA. One of the banners read, ‘UEFA Liars’. A chorus of jeers and anti-UEFA screaming was present in opposition to the organization’s recent apologies for unrest that happened at the Stade de France during the previous season’s final. Once the music ended, Merseyside went back to business as usual with “Liverpool, Liverpool” chants echoing around the stadium.
Liverpool fans remind UEFA they haven’t forgotten the miserable night
On May 28, as fans of both Liverpool and Real Madrid travelled to Saint-Denis to see the final and attempted to enter the stadium, they were met with some horrific scenes of utter chaos. Before UEFA blamed the disorder on the behaviour of the tens of thousands of supporters who had travelled to the France capital, police used pepper spray and kettled fans into tiny sections. Particularly the Reds’ supporters received unjustified blame for the disruptions that evening.
An independent investigation into the incident was ordered, and the results, which were made public in mid-February, revealed that European football’s governing body actually had ‘primary responsibility’ for the extremely upsetting incident. Despite UEFA and French officials’ initial attempts to blame Liverpool fans, the independent investigation released this week exonerated them of all misconduct. Dr. Brandao Rodrigues called it ‘remarkable’ that nobody died on May 28.
Following an apology from UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis to the club and its supporters, Liverpool released a furious statement of intent criticising UEFA for making false statements about who was at fault. As a result, prior to their match against Real Madrid, Liverpool supporters violently protested to express their outrage at UEFA.
In addition to clearing the supporters and concluding that UEFA disregarded safety and security precautions in the run-up to the final, 158-report also blamed French police for their overbearing behaviour. The initial assertion made by UEFA and French Sport Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera that numerous ticketless fans had attempted to enter the stadium illegally was thoroughly refuted, and Liverpool supporters were subsequently hailed for their actions that prevented a disaster.
The travelling Reds’ supporters for the final in France last season were praised for their conduct in a statement by the Football Association as well. The statement for FA read:
“We welcome the findings of the very detailed and thorough report, and are pleased that Liverpool fans have been praised for their exemplary behaviour on the night – behaviour which saved lives. The report contains important recommendations which are relevant to everyone involved in the delivery of major football events, and positive action should be taken to ensure that this never happens again.”