Gerald Darmanin, France’s former interior minister and current justice minister, has issued a formal apology to Liverpool supporters for the mishandled security operation during the 2022 Champions League final in Paris.
Speaking in a YouTube interview, Darmanin admitted, “We got the measures wrong,” acknowledging failures in crowd management that led to significant delays and distress for fans. “Yes, it was a failure. I didn’t properly assess the situation and gave in to preconceived ideas. I apologise to Liverpool fans. They were right to be angry.”
The final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France was delayed by 37 minutes as fans faced overcrowded entry points and tear gas was used by police. Initially, French officials and UEFA blamed Liverpool supporters for arriving late and using fake tickets. However, both claims were later debunked.
A French Senate investigation found that the root cause of the chaos was poor security planning. An independent report later held UEFA primarily responsible, warning the situation nearly turned into a “mass fatality catastrophe.” It was considered “remarkable” that no one died.
Real Madrid won the match 1–0.
