Lawyers planning potential legal action against Uefa on behalf of Liverpool fans injured and traumatized during last May’s Champions League final say the case has been bolstered by Uefa’s devastating report on the near-catastrophe.
Over 2,600 Stade de France victims have sued the European football confederation. The review team, chaired by a Portuguese member of parliament named Tiago Brando Rodrigues, concluded that Uefa bore “major responsibility” for the safety failures that nearly resulted in a “mass fatality tragedy.”
According to the panel’s report, Uefa had “marginalized” its safety and security unit. And senior leaders at the organization were aware of this but did nothing about it.
The attorneys stated that a “special refund mechanism for fans” described by Uefa without explanation in its instant response to the report’s publication is insufficient to compensate individuals for their loss if it only returns the cost of tickets.
Clare Campbell and Jill Paterson, partners at Leigh Day solicitors who represent over 600 people, stated. “The Rodrigues report verifies our early thoughts and fans’ accounts of the Stade de France tragedy. Now, we will proceed with a class action on behalf of the fans we represent.”
They intend to notify Uefa of a legal claim “without delay” and “hope to begin the legal process as soon as possible,” they said.
Regarding the reimbursement method, they stated, “It is essential to realize that more than a ticket refund is necessary here. It’s about taking responsibility and learning for the future. It also involves compensating fans who were harmed and frightened by this horrible incident.”
Andrew Patterson, 32, one of the Liverpool fans represented by Leigh Day, is diabetic and has spoken of his struggle with enduring trauma from a terrifying ordeal in the crush and congestion at France’s national stadium before the championship match between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
“I’m still coping with the aftermath of the worst day of my life,” he stated. “I still cannot handle large gatherings, I still experience night terrors, and I cannot tell the story without crying. It has caused me great distress.”
His insulin was destroyed by the heat during the lengthy period Liverpool fans were crowded at an unorganized access point before the game, putting him in a “very perilous” position, he added. At the turnstiles, he was then pushed against a metal barrier. Which tore the sensor from his arm that monitors his blood sugar levels.
“I began to fear since I had no way to monitor my glucose levels and no medicine. I was without insulin until 3 a.m. the next morning.
UEFA didn’t just destroy the day
“UEFA didn’t just destroy the day; they ruined lives for a great number of individuals. To say that they handled it terribly would be an understatement. It should not have been permitted to occur.”
Pogust Goodhead and Binghams, a Liverpool law practise, have recruited almost 2,000 plaintiffs. Tony Winterburn, a partner at Pogust Goodhead, stated, “This is a very damaging study for Uefa. Which bolsters the argument we are pursuing on behalf of Liverpool supporters.”
“We are asking Uefa and its president, Aleksander Ceferin, to do the right thing and accept public responsibility. All of the fans affected by this heinous event must be compensated.
“It is evident that Uefa’s safety plan was based on the belief that Liverpool fans would cause a disturbance that day, and this myth must be dispelled immediately to prevent such unacceptable situations with potentially terrible outcomes.”
When issuing the study, Uefa reiterated an apology made to fans of both clubs following the championship match. However, Uefa did not take responsibility for the panel’s findings, stating simply that it was “comparing them to its examination of the event’s organization and the events that transpired.”
Regarding the legal accusations, Uefa has been asked for a response.
