Jake Humphrey has apologised to Liverpool supporters on behalf of BT Sport for their coverage during last season’s Champions League final.
The broadcaster came under fire for their coverage of the problems Liverpool fans encountered ahead of their side’s clash with Real Madrid in Paris. Gary Neville was among the many who criticised BT Sport for their build-up to the final in Paris.
BT Sport had no correspondents outside the Stade de France to report on the developing issue of Liverpool fans being treated abhorrently by French police. In a report issued last week, UEFA’s own review concluded that the governing body bears the 'primary responsibility' for the catastrophic organisational and safety failures of last season’s final.
LIVE: Liverpool vs Real Madrid live score updates
And now reacting to the report being released, Humphrey, speaking ahead of tonight’s game between Liverpool and Real at Anfield in the last-16 of this season’s Champions League, apologised to both the Anfield club and Reds fans.
He said: “We are hugely regretful that we were reading out those false statements, the only statements shared on the big screens as we were inside the stadium was a completely false narrative.
“I just want to say sorry to all the people involved in this football club, the stress was added to you because of us sharing that information, which we now know to be completely false.
“The truth is that those football fans that were being accused were out there saving the lives of other football fans, including our family members and our friends.”
Before he added: “If lessons aren’t learned, then next time that this happens there could be even more of a tragedy than we saw on that night in Paris, so let’s hope those lessons are taken on board, absolutely, but it can’t be repeated often enough - Liverpool fans absolutely not to blame for what happened that evening despite the initial messaging that came from the governing body.”
READ NEXT
- Darwin Nunez starts as Liverpool line-up confirmed for Real Madrid
- Liverpool win over Real Madrid can help secure a new manager for Alisson and Fabinho
- Vince McMahon plan taken over by Liverpool investors and The Rock to be a reality
- 'Hello hello, here we go!' - take our Liverpool European famous commentary quiz
- Liverpool have six Premier League fixtures moved as gruelling nine-day run confirmed
