The Mayor of Liverpool today spoke out about the "brutal" treatment of Liverpool fans in Paris and is demanding an investigation.
Thousands of Liverpool fans travelled to the French capital for the big match against Real Madrid on Saturday, May 28. Hundreds of those supporters claimed they were tear-gassed or pepper sprayed by French riot police as they tried to access the stadium.
French police moved in as fans were funnelled outside closed gates for hours before the match. Kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes in the French capital with the authorities blaming it on the 'late arrival of fans' in a statement read on the big screen inside the ground.
READ MORE: Liverpool fans forced to run from French police after Champions League final
The Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson has released a statement on the "brutal" treatment of fans by French Police and is calling for a full investigation.
She said: "Disgusted by appalling management & brutal treatment of LFC fans by French police & Stade De France staff at the Champions League final. I'm writing to Foreign Sec Liz Truss requesting answers from UEFA and for President Emmanuel Macron to investigate. Shameful to pin blame on fans."
ECHO reporter Charlotte Hadfield, who is in Paris, was near the Cours de Vincennes fan zone after the match when she said she had to run from police who began throwing cans of gas.
Charlotte said: "Riot police moved in a short time ago in this square and seemed to fire some sort tear gas which caused hundreds of fans having to disperse. It's not sure what prompted them to do that, but that was obviously quite distressing for fans having to run out of here quite quickly as the tear gas went into their eyes.
"The police presence in general in this area tonight has been very, very heavy and there has been quite a tense atmosphere I would say. There's been police on motorbikes travelling round and stationed at various points."
One LFC fan posted on Twitter: "Tear gassed and attacked by French Police with batons after the game. Disgusting behaviour by the authorities." Sol Simpson told the ECHO: "Before the game water cannons was already set up at the sides of the strip, riot vans galore.
"Seconds after final whistle we all start sneezing, just not really thinking what it was until our eyes were itching struggling to breath it caused absolute panic and chaos within the fan park of fans not knowing what’s exactly happening.
"Outside of the fan park French police all lined up in sections strategically with their riot armour batons and shields and plenty of vehicle support. We were totally surrounded and surrendered we lost a Champions League final and the last thing we wanted was trouble."
Merseyside Police officers deployed to work the match in Paris said the vast majority of fans behaved in an 'exemplary manner'. They added that fans arrived at the turnstiles early and queued as directed.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Green said: “We are aware of a number of reports relating to incidents both before and after last night’s Champions League Final at the Stade de France in Paris. We are also aware that Liverpool FC have requested a formal investigation from UEFA and we will be linking in with both the club, UEFA and the UK Football Policing Unit to pass on the observations of our officers who attended the game and took part in the pre-match meetings with the relevant authorities.
"As with all European matches officers from Merseyside were deployed in France to work in an observatory and advisory capacity with the local officers, and they have reported the vast majority of fans behaved in an exemplary manner, arriving at turnstiles early and queuing as directed and their observations will be passed on to the relevant authorities as part of the debrief for the game.
"Many thousands of fans have travelled throughout this season to matches across Europe and we have worked closely with our supporter groups, the Club and European hosts to ensure that the matches passed without incident and fans were kept safe. Our officers returning today will conduct a formal debrief to ensure that we can fully support any subsequent investigation following last night’s game.
“We know that people would have witnessed a lot of distressing scenes last night and we wish everyone returning home from Paris a safe journey. Our focus today will be supporting Liverpool city council with the policing of the homecoming parade.”
