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‘The impact on the players was a moot point’: UEFA slap aside any Liverpool complaints about fan chaos at Champions League final affecting players, after Jurgen Klopp’s No 2 moaned about lack of communication
- UEFA has dismissed Liverpool claims Champions League chaos affected players
- The final between the Reds and Real Madrid in May was marred by disorder
- Chaos descended before kick-off with English fans being treated badly by police
- Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders claimed some players were in tears
- But UEFA shockingly slapped aside any notions it affected stars as a ‘moot point’
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UEFA has shockingly dismissed Liverpool’s claims that chaos before the Champions League final affected their players.
Chaos descended before the European showpiece in May between the Premier League side and Real Madrid, which Carlo Ancelotti’s men 1-0 thanks to a goal from Vinicius Junior.
The match was delayed due to ticketing issues and many English fans not being inside the Paris stadium.
There were widespread reports of French police treating thousands of supporters, including players’ relatives, with hugely heavy-handed treatment, including tear gas.
Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders had insisted some players were in tears before the match started due to the treatment of their fans.
But a UEFA technical report labelled notions it had affected stars ‘a moot point’.
European football’s governing body UEFA has shockingly dismissed Liverpool’s claims that the chaos before the Champions League final in late May (pictured above) affected their players
The match was delayed after ticketing issues saw scores of fans unable to enter the Paris stadium, with widespread reports of French police using forceful treatment, including tear gas
The Premier League side eventually lost 1-0 against Real Madrid after Vinicius Junior’s strike
The report reads: ‘For all the colour inside, this was a final whose kickoff was delayed for 36 minutes amid distressing scenes for supporters outside.
‘The impact on players who had to leave the dressing rooms for a second warmup prior to the eventual kickoff was a moot point.’
In his new book ‘Intensity’, a chronicle of the 2021-22 season published in early August, Lijnders said: ‘It was deadly quiet. Some (players) were in tears, some were just with complete frustration and most of us with disillusion.
‘UEFA, by the way, didn’t warn us about the delays. It was only after we’d finished our warm-up we found out. Can you imagine that, before a Champions League final?
‘But more important than this was the terrible treatment of our supporters outside, trying to get in to watch the game. A complete failure by the authorities, UEFA and the police.
Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders (left) had claimed some Reds stars were in tears
But UEFA’s technical report of the match called the pre-match events a ‘moot point’ (pictured)
UEFA’s panel include the likes of England boss Gareth Southgate (above) and Frank de Boer
‘Treating football fans like it was a riot. We couldn’t believe what we saw and heard when we later received the images, videos and stories from those caught up in it.
‘That included family members of my own who told me they cried – firstly in fear when outside and later in sheer relief once they made it in. They told me the only ones who were calm were the Liverpool supporters. Sorry to say, UEFA has to do better.’
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said in August: ‘All of the players and staff had family and friends who were caught up in the problems outside the stadium so we are all well aware of what went on and what went wrong.
‘The only conclusion that anyone can come to is that something like that can never happen again.’
UEFA’s panel includes the likes of England boss Gareth Southgate, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, Rangers head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, former Holland boss Frank de Boer and former Real Madrid defender Aitor Karanka.