Politicians across Merseyside and in Westminster have given their reaction to the vindication of Liverpool fans at the Champions League final.
After the report by the French Senate deemed that it was unfair of the authorities to have “sought to blame Liverpool supporters” at the European Cup final in May, leaders from across the region have had their say. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who was at the game and targeted by thieves, told a meeting of the Liverpool City Region combined authority overview and scrutiny committee that there had been a “concerted attempt to smear fans” that could have caused “greater reputational damage if the lies went unchallenged”.
Mayor Rotheram, who addressed French senators, said authorities must ensure the safety of fans at all times and criticised UEFA, and said it was a pity European football’s governing body “didn’t show the same calibre of leadership” as shown by representatives and fans across the region. Mr Rotheram also singled out UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin for criticism, saying he had not received an adequate response to the queries he sent to their Swiss HQ.
