Liverpool fans have been praised for helping people escape a dangerous situation at the Champions League final in Paris on Saturday.
UEFA and the French authorities have been roundly criticised after chaotic scenes unfolded before and after Saturday's match at the Stade de France. Kick off in the game between Liverpool and Real Madrid was delayed after significant numbers of Liverpool fans had not made it into the French national stadium.
UEFA stated initially that the delay to kick off was caused by late arriving fans. However, this claim has been disputed by those in attendance. Footage and images emerged of French police using pepper spray and tear gas at supporters as they waited to get in.
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The ECHO 's Paul Gorst, who covered the final, said: "The truth was, the delay had nothing to do with the 'late arrival of fans', because they had been queuing up for hours before the 9pm kick-off time in Saint-Denis. The issue was the number of closed gates that forced those there to funnel themselves through a small underpass like cattle, leading to huge queues, slow movement and dangerous situations."
Twitter user Ray (@gu04ndo) said that such a situation was narrowly avoided due to the help of a man who was "pulling kids out of a crush at the game". Ray added: "Police pepper spaying groups with kids and old people in. People would be seriously hurt if it wasn’t for this lad, get him found and shouted out."
Ray tweeted a picture, which showed the man and others, dragging people from the crowd.
Responding, Twitter user @laraskyeee said: "I’m his girlfriend Kirk hasn’t got twitter but he just wanted to say there was a few other men helping out, the guy in the red top, and the BT in the purple polo and a few others. He hopes everyone got home safe x"
Other people then praised Kirk's actions, while @BagolManny said: "Guy in the red top is my mate Raj from Bedford. He's back safe", to which Ray responded "Top lad mate. Tell him about the love here for them."
Questions remain of the French authorities and UEFA for how they handled the crowds. New French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said a "mass gathering" of fans with "fake tickets" contributed to the chaotic scenes, but countless reports from fans and journalists on the ground criticised the organisation outside the stadium.
West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who attended the final, has written to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to urge her to demand a formal investigation as well as apologies from UEFA and the French authorities. Mr Byrne also called for an end to the treatment of football fans as “second-class citizens” and “animals”.
In his letter, he said: “The French authorities and UEFA are quite simply covering their own backs with this narrative. Culture secretary Nadine Dorries described the scenes as "deeply concerning" and also called for an inquiry.
