Liverpool fans’ legal claims against UEFA over the 2022 Champions League final, where supporters were tear-gassed by French police, can be heard in England

A High Court judge has ruled that the legal claims of more than 800 Liverpool supporters against UEFA over the chaos of the 2022 Champions League final can be heard in England.  

Thousands of Liverpool fans were unable to enter the Stade de France for the final on May 28, which Real Madrid won 1-0, causing a 36-minute delay as French police were filmed tear-gassing supporters outside the stadium. 

Many supporters had already been targeted by local youths attempting to steal tickets ahead of kick-off. 

In a hearing last July, UEFA argued that English courts do not have the jurisdiction to deal with the claims. The court in Liverpool heard it relied on a principle that English courts will not inquire into the legality of the acts of a foreign government.

However, in a 38-page judgement on Friday, Mr Justice Turner, said the case could be heard in England. 

‘I have already concluded that, as a matter of English law,’ he wrote. ‘It is arguable that the combination of the limits of the scope of the application of the doctrine to the facts of this case as I have found them to be and the further constraints imposed by the operation of the first exception are sufficient in themselves fatally to undermine the defendants’ jurisdiction application.’

There were scenes of chaos as Liverpool fans struggled to get into the final in Paris in 2022

Liverpool fans were cleared of wrongdoing despite initially being held culpable by authorities

French police targeted Liverpool supporters and hit them with tear-gas and pepper-spray

Last March, UEFA said it had reached a final settlement with fans represented by two legal firms, who made personal injury claims. 

European football’s governing body initially blamed the Merseyside club’s fans for the chaos, before apologising following the release of an independent review in 2023. 

UEFA later set up a refund scheme, however, Real Madrid described it as ‘insufficient’ and declined to contribute, while the affected fans resorted to legal action.

After the incident, the governing body also began a series of measures for the next finals including implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review, increasing the number of security officers and involving fans in the planning and execution.

The continuing claims concern a group represented by law firm Leigh Day. 

The 2023 independent report commissioned by UEFA concluded that only the calmness of Liverpool fans prevented a ‘mass fatality catastrophe’ after UEFA were found to have sidelined safety and security, that French police behaved incompetently by firing tear gas into the crowd and that French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin inflated the numbers of ticketless fans ‘as an excuse to mask other failures’.

Jill Paterson, one of the personal injury solicitors at Leigh Day who is representing the fans, said: ‘This is a landmark legal decision for Liverpool fans in their battle for justice against UEFA.

‘UEFA will now have to answer them in the English courts. All football fans should be able to attend matches safely.’

Kick-off was delayed for the game with the blame being put down to the late arrival of fans

Last March, UEFA said it had reached a final settlement with fans represented by two legal firms. Pictured: FIFA president Gianni Infantino (left) alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin (right)

A statement from the governing body read: ‘UEFA today received the English High Court judgment on a preliminary challenge to a claim brought against it by supporters of Liverpool Football Club, in relation to the 2022 Champions League Final in Paris.

‘UEFA had applied for the claim to be dismissed on the grounds that it requires an English court to consider the actions of the French police and other French authorities in a way that is not permitted by English law. That application was considered at a two-day hearing in Liverpool in July 2024.

‘Today’s judgment says that it is too early in the proceedings to know whether UEFA’s position is correct or not. The Judgment says that UEFA’s arguments will be revisited once more information is available.

‘This is the only remaining claim brought by Liverpool fans in relation to the 2022 Champions League Final. The other two claims were resolved following discussions described by legal representatives of both sets of fans as ‘constructive’.

‘UEFA will not be providing any further comment at this stage.’