French Minister Admits Mistake in Blaming Liverpool Fans at Champions League Final

Gérald Darmanin, France’s former interior minister who now serves as justice minister, has officially apologized for wrongly blaming Liverpool supporters for the chaos at the 2022 Champions League final.

“The Biggest Failure of My Career”

In an interview on the French Legend YouTube show, Darmanin described that night as “the biggest failure” of his political career. Contrary to his earlier claims, he admitted that the real issue stemmed not from English fans, but from local delinquents robbing and assaulting supporters.

“I admit my mistake for not properly checking what was happening and giving in to preconceptions… I apologize to Liverpool fans. Of course, they were right to feel upset,” Darmanin said.

Tear Gas, Delays, and UEFA Lawsuits

The match kickoff was delayed by over 30 minutes due to unsafe crowd conditions outside the Stade de France. French police were seen using tear gas against fans who complained of being mishandled and forced into overcrowded zones.

Recently, UEFA failed in its attempt to dismiss lawsuits filed by hundreds of Liverpool fans seeking compensation for injuries allegedly caused by the incident.