Liverpool FC fans said they hope the French Senate's report into the Champions League final ensures "no football supporter ever experiences anything like it again".
The Senate's report presented this morning found it was unfair for the French authorities "to have sought to blame Liverpool supporters". The report said supporters had been "misunderstood" and identified as "hooligans" due to stereotypes from the 1980s.
Instead the report focused on a "chain of administrative errors" from the authorities involved in the organisation of the match". The report, presented by senators François-Noël Buffet and Laurent Lafon, added "there was no real coordination between the different organisations and nobody had any foresight".
READ MORE: Liverpool FC fans falsely blamed for Paris Champions League final chaos, Senate report finds
Liverpool FC supporters' groups said the parliamentary report presented today needs to ensure "adequate change" is made so fans travelling overseas feel safe supporting their club. Ted Morris, chairman of Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (LDSA), told the ECHO he's delighted LFC fans have been exonerated from any blame.
Mr Morris and Joe Blott, chair of Spirit of Shankly, appeared before the Senate last month. Mr Morris said the pair felt the "weight and expectation" of speaking for the football club but hope the result ensures accountability from the necessary authorities.
The match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid on May 28 at Stade de France was marred by organisational failures from UEFA and the French authorities. The ECHO heard from a number of LFC fans in the days following the match who detailed their horrific experiences which included being tear gassed by police, denied access to the stadium despite having valid tickets, and being attacked and robbed by locals in Saint Denis.
Speaking to the ECHO following the report, Mr Morris said: "We're delighted by the Senate report which completely exonerates Liverpool fans. It's something we obviously knew already but seeing it there in print dispels all the false narratives presented by the French authorities, particularly the Interior Minister."
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin only recently apologised for his false claim that the issues outside the stadium were caused by ticketless Liverpool fans. Mr Morris and the Disabled Supporters Association has now called for Mr Darminin's resignation.
Mr Morris added: "He should be an honourable man as a parliamentarian - that's what you're supposed to be. He pushed lies that everyone knew to be untrue. If he took accountability and responsibility to make sure it never happened again we wouldn't have had to go through all this."
The LDSA and Spirit of Shankly have also called for an official apology from the French Government and a retraction of the lies. But Mr Morris added the fan groups have got questions for UEFA's the handling of the match and await the independent review published later this year.
Mr Morris and Mr Blott previously told the Senate the Stade de France isn't suitable to host big events such as the Olympic Games and the Rugby World Cup. Both events are due in the next two years. Mr Morris told the ECHO even if the changes highlighted in the report are implemented he does not know if the stadium and the surrounding area will be suitable.
Mr Morris said: "Football fans and families from around the world, not just our city, were left fearing for their lives. Everyone involved in the operation of the match should feel shame for the rest of their lives.
"But I'm not going to let the French authorities stop me doing what I love. Our actions managed to get the truth out there and that's important. The truth is what matters."
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