UEFA extended a heartfelt apology to every fan who endured distressful moments during the lead-up to the UEFA Champions League final, held at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28, 2022. The organization stressed that such an event should never recur and should have stood as a triumphant showcase of European club football.
In a formal statement, UEFA expressed sincere regret to all spectators who witnessed or experienced upsetting incidents while preparations for the final were underway. The federation noted that the occasion should have represented a celebration of European football and pledged to learn from the experience to prevent repetition.
Immediately after the events, UEFA commissioned an independent review to identify the shortcomings and responsibilities of every stakeholder involved in organizing the final. The body today published the terms of reference for this review, outlining its scope and objectives.
Real Madrid sought clarity regarding the events in Paris during the Champions League final.
From Portugal, it was announced that the review would be led by Tiago Brandão Rodrigues. Its purpose is to understand what went wrong in the lead-up to the final and to identify lessons that can be learned to ensure similar issues do not recur in future matches.
The review will examine the entire day, including how spectators entered the stadium from different access points and how operations around security, mobility, and ticketing were planned and executed. It will also assess any other plans that fall within the review chair’s discretion.
Additionally, UEFA will study the planning and preparation undertaken by the organizations involved in the final. This includes other sites such as fan meeting points associated with Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF, as well as the broader arrangements for events surrounding the final.
The independent assessment aims to identify problems or gaps in how operations were carried out, clarify the roles and responsibilities of each organization, and evaluate the adequacy of the responses received. The findings will be used to recommend best practices for UEFA and other stakeholders in future events.
The review will involve UEFA and all relevant parties, including fan groups such as Football Supporters Europe, the two finalist clubs, the general public, the French Football Federation, the police, other public authorities at national and local levels, and the stadium operator. The process will proceed immediately and should yield a comprehensive report as soon as possible. Once completed, UEFA plans to publish the findings to promote transparency and accountability.