Liverpool fans vented their fury at UEFA chiefs and French government officials with three banners unfurled ahead of their Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Last season's Champions League final against Los Blancos was marred by chaotic scenes outside Stade de France in Paris, which travelling Reds supporters were caught up in. Kick-off was delayed by over half an hour as fans - who UEFA claimed were trying to enter the stadium without tickets - were dangerously kettled by police and tear gas was used.
An independent report was commissioned into the events ahead of the final and, after four months, the findings were released earlier in February, clearing Liverpool fans of any blame. Instead, UEFA was found to have neglected safety and security measures, while police were also criticised for their approach to managing the showpiece event of the European football calendar.
UEFA's initial claims about the behaviour of Liverpool fans had been echoed by Gerald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior of France, and Amelie Oudea-Castera, Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Darmanin apologised to supporters in the wake of the independent report being released in mid-February.
"Should things have been managed better at the Stade de France? The answer is yes," Darmanin said on the RTL radio station. "Am I partly responsible? The answer is yes. Of course, I readily apologise to everyone who suffered from this bad management of the event."
Darmanin's apology has done little to smooth things over with Liverpool fans who remain deeply hurt by the events of last May and the blame which was wrongly placed on them. Before kick-off against Real Madrid, they unveiled a banner of Darmanin and Oudea-Castera with the word "menteurs", which translates to English as "liars".
The Anfield faithful also took aim at UEFA; a second banner called for president Aleksander Ceferin, and Martin Kallen, who is in charge of the governing body's event planning, to resign. A third banner bore the message: "Due to inept UEFA organisation, the match was delayed. Further information finds them guilty."
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This banner was a clear reference to the message which was put on the big screens at Stade de France ahead of kick-off in last season's final, which Real Madrid went on to win 1-0. "Due to a security issue the match has been delayed. Further information will follow in 15 minutes," the message read.
The banners at Anfield were unfurled after Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand recalled the chaos that characterised last season's final. The pair were serving as pundits for the fixture and the former's family and friends were caught up in the scenes outside Stade de France.
