A screen notice announces the delay for kick-off prior to the UEFA Chamiopns League final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris, France on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
The French Senate has questioned the Interior and Sports Ministers over the incidents during the Champions League final at the Stade de France last weekend.
PARIS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- French Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin and Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera were at a Senate hearing of the law commission on Wednesday in regards to the incidents during the football Champions League final game at the Stade de France on May 28, French news BFMTV reported.
"It is obvious the negative image of this game is a wound for the national image and things could have been better organized", said Darmanin to the Senate.
"We sincerely regret the unacceptable spill-over," said the Minister of the Interior. However, he stressed that the worst was avoided.
Darmanin said that fake tickets were scanned before the game, precisely "2,800 fake tickets" with the same ticket has sometimes been duplicated, for one 760 times, the other 744 times.
"Our mistake was probably not to see that tens of thousands of people without tickets would go directly to the Stade de France," he stated.
According to the prefecture of police in Paris, the number of additional spectators in the stadium is between 34,800 and 42,800.
The Minister of the Interior apologized for the disproportionate usage of tear gas. "I saw two incidents where the use of tear gas was against the rules and I asked for sanctions," he said.
During the game day, 6,800 police and fire-fighters were deployed in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis where the stadium is located, noted a press release of the prefecture of police of Paris.
"There were enough police personnel for this event", said the Minister of Interior.
For her part, the Minister of Sports apologized to the fans, especially to the Liverpool fans.
"We are sorry for any inconvenience that may have been caused to those of the 22,000 fans who had tickets,'' said Oudea-Castera.
"We are going to have to improve", said the Minister of Sports in regards to the security control.
The Senators pointed out the risks for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 as well as the Olympic Games in 2024 in France. The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is already questioned in regards to the efficiency of the security.
Supporters of Real Madrid welcome players' arrival in the city center of Madrid, Spain on May 29, 2022. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
On Saturday, the game was delayed by 30 minutes due to a group of supporters without tickets who had attempted to "penetrate the stadium", according to a statement by the French police.
Liverpool fans were complaining about the organizing work and fans with tickers were waiting outside to enter the stadium. Videos and pictures showed Liverpool fans without causing any form of violence getting tear gas by the police.
The UEFA is undergoing an investigation. The French Minister of Sports is said to have sent a request to the UEFA for compensation to the fans that were not able to enter the stadium. ■
