France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has issued a formal apology to Liverpool supporters for wrongly blaming them for the chaos at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris.
Speaking in a candid interview on the Legend YouTube channel, Darmanin called the incident “the biggest failure” of his political career.
Darmanin, who was interior minister at the time, admitted that his initial reaction—accusing English fans of causing the chaos—was based on prejudice and poor judgment.
“The scapegoat was easy to find, and I apologise now to Liverpool supporters,” he said. “It was a mistake and a failure.”
The 2022 final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Stade de France descended into disarray when French police used tear gas on fans trying to enter the stadium.
Many supporters were also attacked by local gangs, an eventuality that the security forces were unprepared for.
Darmanin acknowledged that security forces had wrongly prepared for hooliganism rather than opportunistic criminal activity.
“We were expecting a war of hooligans, and what we got instead was muggers,” he said.
An independent UEFA-commissioned report later cleared Liverpool fans of wrongdoing, contradicting Darmanin’s early claims.
Darmanin also commented on rising insecurity in France, stating there is “no longer any safe place,” a remark that drew backlash from political opponents.
Despite the controversy, he admitted he is considering a presidential run in 2027, saying, “I have ambitions for the country to do better than what I see now.”
The apology comes as long-awaited vindication for Liverpool fans, many of whom demanded accountability following the traumatic event.
