Real Madrid demand UEFA refund all their fans for Champions League final
Real Madrid have demanded that UEFA refund all of their supporters for last season’s Champions League final.
Fans were refused entry to the stadium, tear-gassed and penned in outside the ground as the kick-off was delayed by 36 minutes.
Real Madrid went on to win the final 1-0 thanks to Vinicius Junior’s winner, but headlines were dominated by the scenes outside the stadium.
UEFA initially blamed Liverpool supporters for the disorder, but an independent report found that European football’s governing body bore “primary responsibility” for the chaotic scenes that took place outside the Stade de France, which was hosting the final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
On Tuesday, UEFA announced that refunds will be issued to fans who had tickets for gates A, B, C, X, Y and Z at the Stade de France, where many Liverpool supporters were situated.
The refund scheme was also applicable to supporters who could not enter the stadium or were unable to do so before the scheduled kickoff, while fans with accessibility tickets will also be reimbursed.
Real Madrid have described UEFA’s refund scheme as “insufficient” and have insisted that all supporters who attended the final should receive their money back.
In a statement, the reigning European champions said: “The fact is that all the fans experienced an unacceptable delay in the start of the match.
“In addition, there was unacceptable insecurity both in accessing and leaving the stadium, as well as additional harm such as theft, assaults and threats.”
Real Madrid went on to add: “Unfortunately we consider the UEFA proposal insufficient. The content of the report, which was requested by UEFA itself, highlights all the fans who attended the final were victims of UEFA’s poor organisation and saw their personal safety compromised.
“Whether being able to access the stadium or not, or having done so at the scheduled time, which in any case was due to the exceptional behaviour of the fans of the two clubs, the reality is that all the fans suffered.
“For this reason, Real Madrid has decided not to cooperate with the limited compensation scheme promoted by UEFA, which we ask to rectify and assume full responsibility.”
Los Blancos also stated that they will be setting up an “online assistant service” that can be used by any of their supporters who were affected at last year’s final.
They will help fans “make the appropriate claims against UEFA for their personal and legitimate interests”, with further details of the service to be announced in the coming days.
