May 30, 2022 - 23:33
By guardian.ng

British fans, politicians condemn Champions League final chaos

Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles square in downtown Madrid, at the end of the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)

British politicians and fans on Sunday condemned the treatment of fans around the stadium before Saturday’s Champions League final when French police sprayed tear gas on Liverpool supporters.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told Sky News on Sunday: “It is concerning to see that people either didn’t get into the stadium or were … treated with a very aggressive approach.”

Earlier the politician who oversees the sector, the Secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries, tweeted of “troubling reports” from the stadium.

A Liverpool MP from the opposition Labour Party, Ian Byrne, tweeted that “I’ve just endured one of the worst experiences in my life. Horrendous security and organisation putting lives at risk”.

Merseyside Police said in a statement that there were “distressing scenes at the match,” where its officers were deployed.

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

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.”

Liverpool supporters’ association Spirit of Shankly wrote on Twitter that “Last night was