Madrid wants answers after Champions League final disorder

Real Madrid鈥檚 Marcelo lifts the trophy after winning the Champions League final against Liverpool at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, on Saturday.(AP)
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  • The club's call for answers came six days after problems occurred outside the Stade de France
  • The Spanish club questioned the decision to pick suburban Paris as a replacement for the Russian city of Saint Petersburg

MADRID: Real Madrid said Friday they want an explanation for the causes of the disorder that left their fans 鈥渁bandoned and defenseless鈥� at the Champions League final.
The club鈥檚 call for answers came six days after problems occurred outside the Stade de France in suburban Paris, where Madrid won the European title by defeating Liverpool 1-0.
鈥淲e call for answers and explanations in order to determine those responsible for leaving the fans abandoned and defenseless,鈥� Madrid said in a statement. 鈥淔ans who in general terms showed exemplary conduct at all times.鈥�
The Spanish club questioned the decision to pick suburban Paris as a replacement for the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, which was originally scheduled to host the final before Russia invaded Ukraine.
鈥淲e would like to know the reasons which led to this venue being chosen to host the final and the criteria used, taking into account the experiences of the day,鈥� Madrid said.
Liverpool had already complained about those involved in organizing the event shortly after the final. Most of the attention at the time went to the access problems faced by the English club鈥檚 fans, but later there were also reports of disorder on the Madrid side.
The Spanish club were upset with the violence that occurred outside the stadium after the game. They said that 鈥渟omething which should have been a wonderful festival of football鈥� for fans 鈥渜uickly turned into a series of unfortunate events which have caused a sense of outrage around the world.鈥�
They mentioned the 鈥渞evealing images鈥� published by the media that showed several supporters being 鈥渁ttacked, harassed, assaulted and robbed in violent fashion. These occurrences continued as they moved in their cars or busses, causing concern for their physical well-being. Certain fans even had to spend the night in hospital as a result of injuries.鈥�
Authorities said the problems after the match occurred because police officers were moved closer to the stadium gates to help disperse fans, leaving other areas without surveillance.
Liverpool said they collected more than 5,000 testimonies from supporters who traveled to France. Chief executive Billy Hogan said he was 鈥渉orrified by the way some men, women, children 鈥� able bodied, less able bodied 鈥� have been indiscriminately treated.鈥�
Madrid defender Dani Carvajal said it was 鈥渁 pretty big mess鈥� for his club鈥檚 fans and that security was not property provided for the supporters or the players鈥� relatives before and after the match.
According to the French Football Federation (FFF), 35,000 people without tickets or with 鈥渇ake鈥� tickets made their way to the Stade de France, creating disorder by blocking access to the stadium and preventing fans, who had real tickets from getting in.
European soccer鈥檚 governing body, UEFA, has also started to gather evidence about issues outside the Stade de France that marred one of the world鈥檚 biggest sporting occasions.
鈥淔ootball has transmitted an image to the world which is far away from the values and goals which it should pursue,鈥� Madrid said. 鈥淥ur fans and supporters deserve a response and those responsible to be held accountable in order for events like these to be eradicated from football and sport in general.鈥�