Over 1,700 Liverpool fans will sue UEFA over trauma and injury in UCL final in Paris

September 29 - More than 1,700 Liverpool fans who claim to have been injured or suffered psychological trauma in last season's chaotic Champions League final will sue UEFA.

The group action follows the showpiece game against Real Madrid in Paris on May 28 when UEFA delayed kick-off by 35 minutes citing "security concerns".

A French Senate investigation has contradicted initial claims by UEFA and the French government that Liverpool fans were primarily responsible for the problems by not having the correct tickets.

The investigation instead cited a "chain of malfunctions", including a lack of preparation by the authorities and UEFA, as well as poorly executed security arrangements.

Liverpool law firm Bingham says clients have spoken of "terrifying scenes" at the Stade de France.

Bingham's has joined global law firm Pogust Goodhead in a lawsuit against 1,450 clients alleging negligence. Leigh Day, another law firm, also filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of 400 other fans.

Lawyers said they plan to sue UEFA for breach of contract in the sale of tickets and negligence in the duty of care they owed to fans, who suffered physical and mental harm.

Ahead of the match, thousands of Liverpool supporters were routed to an entrance where all of the stadium's entry points were not operational, causing a dangerous crush. French police and security agents intervened indiscriminately to disperse the fans with pepper spray and tear gas.

Off the pitch after the game, gangs of local men armed with knives, machetes and bats roamed the streets and public spaces, assaulting and assaulting supporters, with reports that French police were often stood at a distance and watched.

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Liverpool said they had sent testimonies from 8,500 supporters to UEFA's 'independent review' of what happened.

Binghams' Gerard Long told the BBC: "As a lifelong Liverpool fan, I was absolutely horrified when I heard how events unfolded at what should have been the climax. of the football season.

"Not only other fans, but my friends, family and clients who were present that day spoke of the terrifying scenes that surrounded the Stade de France before and even after the match."

“We represent people who have suffered physical crush injuries at the turnstiles, and many, many people who have suffered psychologically; some feared for their lives,” Long said. "Customers have reported anxiety, PTSD, nightmares, never wanting to go to a European football match or even to France again.

"Our case is that UEFA as the host had a duty of care to the people - who paid a lot of money for the tickets - and they breached it."

UEFA will not comment further until its review has produced its report, due in late November.

UEFA has previously said it sincerely apologizes "to all the fans who had to experience or witness frightening and distressing situations that night. No football fan should be put in this situation , and it must not happen again."

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