Skip to content
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

UK fans say 'treated like animals' at Champions League final

Ian Byrne, the MP for Liverpool, West Derby said that the match was “one of the worst experiences in my life.”

UK fans say 'treated like animals' at Champions League final

British football fans and officials on Sunday condemned French police for using tear gas on Liverpool supporters ahead of Saturday's Champions League final in Paris, saying they were treated "like animals".

One fan, Paul Machin, said in a YouTube video that what he witnessed in Paris was "unlike anything I've seen at a football match before", condemning "totally and utterly reprehensible behaviour from the French police who were an absolute disgrace".

Another supporter, Andrew Whittle, told Sky News: "Everyone was just funnelled into one place" and the crush "was a real Hillsborough sort of moment".

Although no-one was seriously injured, frightening scenes outside the Stade de France have prompted comparisons with the 1989 stadium disaster at a Liverpool match in Sheffield, which caused 97 deaths in a crush and prompted a major overhaul of stadium safety standards.

Sunday was also the anniversary of another stadium disaster, when 39 people were killed at Heysel Stadium in Brussels in 1985 as Juventus fans tried to flee Liverpool fans.

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish had laid a wreath in honour of the victims ahead of Saturday's match.

The ex-Liverpool star, who was the club's manager at the time of Hillsborough, tweeted after the game that "the way they (fans) were treated by authorities was an absolute joke. Nobody should ever be afraid to go to a football game."

European football governing body UEFA blamed "fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles" for a 35-minute delay to the final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Ian Byrne, the MP for Liverpool, West Derby, for the opposition Labour Party, told Sky News that the match was "one of the worst experiences in my life, it was absolutely appalling".

Fans were treated "like absolute animals" and those arriving hours before the game were "getting teargassed and kettled in", he said.

Merseyside Police said in a statement that there were "distressing scenes at the match," where its officers were deployed in an observer capacity.

The force insisted "the vast majority of fans behaved in an exemplary manner".

Liverpool Football Club said they were "hugely disappointed" that their supporters had been subjected to an "unacceptable" breakdown of the security perimeter" at the stadium.

Liverpool players were set to take part in an open-top bus parade through the city on Sunday afternoon despite losing in Paris.

Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson tweeted: "I know many have had a distressing time," adding that she supported the club's "call for an explanation into what happened before kick off."

- 'Shambolic and disorganised' -
Liverpool supporters' association Spirit of Shankly said in a statement that "the failure rests with UEFA, the French authorities and police", criticising the "not unusual heavy-handed response from the police and their indiscriminate use of tear gas and pepper spray".

It said Liverpool fans "were not late" and "had legitimate tickets but failed to gain entry".

Current and former players also criticised the organisation of the event.

Liverpool player Andy Robertson told journalists after the match that "tear gas getting thrown at people was unacceptable."

"It was horrendous for our fans and all families that have been through it as well."

Former England star Gary Lineker, now a BBC presenter, who was at the match, addressed UEFA in a tweet saying: "I'm not sure it's possible to have a more poorly organised event if you tried. Absolutely shambolic and dangerous".

"I saw no behaviour from Liverpool fans that warranted the police reaction," he added.

Former Liverpool defender Jim Beglin tweeted that after the match "organised gangs set about mugging departing fans", with "not a police officer in sight".

Britain's Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries described the footage of the mayhem as "deeply concerning" and joined Liverpool in urging UEFA to launch "a formal investigation into what went wrong and why".

"It is in the interests of everyone involved to understand what happened and to learn lessons from these events."

UEFA said they were "sympathetic" to the fans affected and would review the situation with French authorities.

However, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin pointed the finger at the Liverpool fans, tweeting that "Thousands of British 'supporters' either without tickets or with fake ones forced their way through and sometimes behaved violently towards the stewards".

More For You

 electricity-pylons-iStock

From 2026, households within 500 metres of new or upgraded electricity infrastructure will receive bill reductions of up to £2,500 over 10 years. (Representational image: iStock)

Residents near new electricity pylons to get bill reductions

THE GOVERNMENT announced on Monday that households living near new electricity pylons will receive discounts on their energy bills.

The move is part of efforts to expand electricity infrastructure, despite opposition to large-scale projects needed to connect renewable energy to the grid.

Keep ReadingShow less
Samantha Ruth Prabhu breaks gender barriers with equal pay policy in debut production 'Bangaram'

Samantha Ruth Prabhu announces equal pay policy for her debut production Bangaram, setting a new benchmark for inclusivity in South Indian cinema

Instagram/SamanthaRuthPrabhu

Samantha Ruth Prabhu breaks gender barriers with equal pay policy in debut production 'Bangaram'

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is rewriting the rules in South Indian cinema, and this time, it’s not just with her acting. With her first production venture, Bangaram, she’s made headlines for setting a new standard: equal pay for everyone on set, regardless of gender. That’s something rarely seen in an industry where pay gaps are the norm.

When Samantha launched her production house, Tralala Moving Pictures, in December 2023, her vision was clear: tell stories that matter and create an inclusive space for talent. Bangaram, directed by Nandini Reddy, is the company’s debut film, and it’s already turning heads. While the first-look poster generated plenty of buzz, what really caught people’s attention was Samantha’s insistence on fair wages for all cast members, regardless of gender.

Keep ReadingShow less
air-pollution-delhi

New Delhi was ranked as the world's most polluted capital. (Photo: Reuters)

Indian cities among world’s most polluted: report

INDIA continued to dominate global pollution rankings in 2024, with multiple cities among the most affected by dangerous particle smog, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The report, published by Swiss air technology company IQAir, found that Byrnihat was the world’s most polluted metropolitan area last year.

Keep ReadingShow less
SS Rajamouli Enhances Set Security After Mahesh Babu Video Leak

The production team has implemented a three-layer security arrangement to safeguard the remaining schedule

Getty images- Instagram/ urstrulymahesh

SS Rajamouli tightens security on the sets of film with Mahesh Babu after video leak

SS Rajamouli, the visionary director behind global blockbusters like Baahubali and RRR, is once again making waves with his next ambitious project, tentatively titled SSMB 29. Starring Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, this jungle adventure has become one of the most anticipated films in Indian cinema. However, the journey to bring this cinematic spectacle to life has been anything but smooth, as the production grapples with leaks and heightened security measures to protect its secrets.

The buzz around SSMB 29

Since its announcement, SSMB 29 has been the talk of the town. The film marks the first collaboration between Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu, two powerhouses of Indian cinema. While details about the plot remain tightly under wraps, rumours suggest it is a high-octane jungle adventure with globetrotting elements. The film’s story is penned by Rajamouli’s father, Vijayendra Prasad, who is renowned for crafting epic narratives like Baahubali and RRR.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump

Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump had said the US has been economically and financially 'ripped off' by several countries, including India. (Photo: Getty Images)

India denies pledge to lower tariffs following Trump’s statement

INDIA has said it has not committed to reducing import duties on US goods, following US president Donald Trump’s claim that New Delhi had agreed to "cut their tariffs way down."

Trump, in the early weeks of his second term, has taken a tough stance on global trade, imposing tariffs on several countries, including India, and accusing trading partners of unfair practices.

Keep ReadingShow less