Following the chaos that marred last May’s Champions League final in Paris, UEFA will refund all Liverpool fans’ tickets in full
An independent report released last month held UEFA “primarily responsible” for the “large number of near misses that nearly led to disaster” at the Stade de France.
Liverpool fans were originally blamed by authorities amid shambolic scenes that saw tear gas used by police and others crushed in dangerous bottlenecks outside the ground.
Having accepted blame for a catalogue of organisational failures ahead of Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Real Madrid, UEFA has now agreed to refund all 19,618 Liverpool ticket holders.
Liverpool supporters will have their Champions League final tickets refunded in full by UEFA
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said: “We have taken into account a huge number of views expressed both publicly and privately, and we believe we have devised a scheme that is comprehensive and fair.
“We value the input from the Liverpool FC supporter organisations Spirit of Shankly and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association as well as the open and transparent dialogue throughout this period.
“We recognise the nеɡɑtiᴠе experiences of those supporters on the day and with this scheme we will refund fans who had bought tickets and who were the most affected by the difficulties in accessing the stadium.”
The final, won by Vinicius Junior’s 59th-minute strike, was delayed by 38 minutes due to the crowd issues outside the venue.
A large number of supporters with genuine tickets were refused entry because of faulty scanning devices, with many accused of possessing fake tickets.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, Spirit of Shankly and the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association said: “We welcome today’s announcement from UEFA.
“This unprecedented move is the result of tireless work, alongside FSE [Football Supporters Europe] and Ian Byrne MP, to hold those responsible for the catastrophic events in Paris.
“With a promise to reimburse supporters, UEFA have gone some way to acknowledging their part in the fiasco.
“But it does not excuse UEFA, exempt them from criticism or lessen the need for them to implement all of the recommendations made by the independent inquiry.
“We will work alongside Liverpool and publish details once we know how and when refunds will be processed.”
The cost of refunding nearly 20,000 supporters is expected to be in the region of £3million (€3.4m), according to reports.
Liverpool transfer news: Reds enquire about Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot
Liverpool have asked to be kept informed of Adrien Rabiot’s contract situation at Juventus, according to 90min.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and he has entertained the idea of leaving Serie A in order to pursue other opportunities.
Juventus haven’t given up on trying to convince the Frenchman to stay. In the hope of tying him down to a new deal, the club and the player’s representatives have been holding negotiations recently.
Adrien Rabiot in action for Juventus
However, as per 90min, there has been vast interest from the Premier League.
The Reds, Tottenham and Manchester United have all asked the player’s agent to keep them informed of the contract negotiations being held with Juventus.
Alongside Barcelona, the three English giants are eyeing a move for the 27-year-old on a free transfer in the summer.
Liverpool eyeing move for Rabiot
As Liverpool need multiple midfield additions this summer, a quality player on a free transfer would be a shrewd signing for the club.
Rabiot is a France international, having earned 35 caps for a star-studded Les Bleus side.
Whilst at Paris Saint-Germain, he made 163 appearances in Ligue 1 – winning 20 trophies during his seven-year tenure.
He has since gone on to make 115 appearances in the Italian top-flight.
That’s where he impressed Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon, who called him a ‘fantastic’ player.
Therefore, on a free, the 27-year-old would appear to be a great addition for Liverpool. He would add experience alongside a number of other promising midfield signings – Jude Bellingham, for example.
