Photos: Chaos as Liverpool fans enter Champions League final
Al JazeeraAPR 2022
French police are to blame for sticking to a confrontational doctrine, which has been widely used to shut down protests. Authorities must reinforce the preventive role of the police to avoid fiascos like this in the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
French authorities cannot be blamed for the chaos as the entrance was blocked by Liverpool fans, more than two thirds of whom had fake tickets. French police acted out of a necessity to disperse the crowd and prevent invasions.
Events at the Champions League final are reminiscent of disasters such as Hillsborough and reveal that the tendency of authorities to mistreat football fans and blame them for organizational ineptitude continues. The widespread scapegoating of loyal and devoted supporters must be addressed.