Ex-Fifa official: Chiefs ‘messed up big time’ and courts must intervene after Liverpool controversy update
Keith Hackett has called for a judicial review into the events before Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League final last month (28 May).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Uefa “messed up big time” with their handling of the situation.
The kick-off was delayed by over half an hour as fans struggled to get into the Stade de France and the police attempted to manage the situation by using pepper spray.
Uefa confirmed last week (30 May) that they had commissioned an independent report into the events surrounding the game.
“I think Uefa need to set up an independent panel and put a judge in charge,” Hackett told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“I think they need to examine in detail any shortfalls. Uefa are usually very thorough and they’ve been caught on the hop here and I think that’s due to the switch of the stadium in fairness, that has to have impacted their detailed and thorough planning.
“From a communication point of view they are normally pretty good and on this occasion, they’ve messed up big time.
“To come out and say what they said initially was an off the cuff remark by some people who were clearly insulated away from the problem, having a prawn sandwich and a gin and tonic.
“This is the difficulty sometimes when you’re inside the stadium and not keeping an eye. It’s amazing because I know in Uefa procedures prior to the Champions League game that type of detail is in that criteria, check with the police, fire brigade and medics. All those things are part and parcel of that plan.
“There are too many people who have gone to that game as football fans and experienced what they felt was a life-threatening situation.
“Uefa take control of the stadium from a marketing point of view and an organisational point of view so it’s their team that has to do the what ifs?
“That’s why they need a judicial review with a judge to go through it. Whatever lessons are learned, they should be shared amongst Europe.”
In other news, a finance guru has issued an ‘exclusive’ Liverpool claim amid £1.2billion talks.