(Football news) Lawyers have said that about 900 Liverpool fans will be suing European football governing body UEFA for the chaotic scenes before the Champions League final last may. As per a report by an independent body, UEFA bears “primary responsibility” for what could have been a “mass fatality catastrophe” in Paris last year where fans were penned in and sprayed with tear gas outside Stade de France, resulting in the match getting delayed by 36 minutes. 

A group personal injury claim has been issued by law firm Leigh Day against UEFA on behalf of 887 clients at the Liverpool District Registry of the High Court on Monday. The Liverpool-based firm is bringing the claim on the basis that UEFA failed to ensure a secure and safe environment to those attending the match and owes a legal liability to those who suffered psychological and physical injuries. Last September, global law company Pogust Goodhead and law firm Bingham teamed up in a lawsuit for 1,450 clients, suing UEFA for a breach of contract in ticket sales and negligence.

Initially, the governing body as well as the French authorities blamed ticketless fans for the chaos outside the stadium but an independent report commissioned by UEFA said there was “no evidence” to support the “reprehensible” claims. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin acknowledged his organisation’s failings at UEFA Congress in Lisbon held on Wednesday. 

Ceferin said “We must never forget the mistakes of the past and we must remain humble at all times. Unfortunately, unlike goalkeepers, leaders can never keep a ‘clean sheet’. No leader can boast an unblemished record, however much they invest and however passionate, professional or experienced they are. There are always a few stains, a few mistakes that tarnish our reputation, errors they would love to erase. I am no different and Uefa is no different. The most important thing is to understand the mistake and change, not to repeat them.”

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