Billy Hogan said Liverpool's request for
information from fans who travelled to France for the match against Real Madrid
had been “astounding”.
Liverpool fans were tear-gassed and
pepper-sprayed by police as they waited in huge queues prior to the game, with
the access problems leading to a kick-off delay of 36 minutes.
European football's governing body Uefa
initially blamed the late arrival of fans for the problems, which included some
supporters being crushed, before later issuing a statement referring to fans
trying to enter the stadium with fake tickets as the cause.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera
reiterated the latter claims on Monday, while French interior minister Gerald
Darmanin alleged “fraud at an industrial level” leading to the fiasco. She
added that the problem was exacerbated later by local youths trying to force
their way in to the game.
This version of events has been challenged
by numerous fans and other independent eye-witnesses, including The National
and other media outlets.
Liverpool chief Hogan on Monday was
incredulous that at the ministers' comments and accused French authorities of
trying to “deflect responsibility” for the chaotic scenes.
On Tuesday Hogan called on Uefa to include the testimony from Liverpool fans submitted to the Merseyside club’s website in the European governing body’s independent review.
“The form has been on our website for just
over 24 hours and we have had over 5,000 forms completed and submitted, which
is really astounding,” Hogan told Liverpool’s official club website.
“Thank you to everyone who has taken the
time to submit their experiences.
“I’m horrified by the way some men, women,
children – some able-bodied, some less able-bodied – have been indiscriminately
treated over the course of Saturday.
“I think the volume of completed forms in
the last 24 hours really demonstrates how fans want to support the
investigation process and, importantly, gather real evidence of what happened
both prior to and post kick-off.
“I do think it’s important to recognise
we’ve all been rightly focused on the access issues at Stade de France; I think
it’s also important we don’t lose sight of what happened after the match.
“I think we’ve all seen videos, photos,
I’ve read a number of stories of absolutely horrific experiences leaving the
stadium as well – crimes being committed, muggings taking place.
“Nobody should experience what our fans
experienced both before or after the match.
“In our minds, obviously this is wholly
unacceptable, which is why it’s important we create this body of experiences,
which clearly must be included in the independent investigation.”
Liverpool lost Saturday’s final 1-0 but the
match was overshadowed by the off-field events.
Hogan added the club are attempting to make
contact with any supporters injured in Saturday’s distressing scenes, to offer
assistance.
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