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Not sure why I should bother writing this up, but I will, simply as I can't be arsed responding to the many ignorant and hateful comments that will be made online. But for those people who are unsure of what went on, read away and feel free to share away.
First up some pointers. Have seen articles in the Guardian and the Mail, both of which tell a story of the chaos and disorganisation of the entry, of heavy handed violent reactionary policing as events unfolded. Twitter is also awash with first hand experience and videos of fans and their experiences including complaints post match too.
Will try to stick to my own expereinces and those I spoke to and/or identify the source of any comments.
First up Paris. Me and my mates avoided the fanzone for a couple of reasons. We knew it would be crowded, very crowded. Myself and a couple of fellow survivors had all been at Hillsborough, so none of us like crowded environments. Far better to simply enjoy the sunshine, beer and French food in Montmatre where we are all staying.
We all had match tickets and spent the afternoon slowly downing a few beers. Between us we had substantial knowledge/experience of the Stade, of Paris (CRS) policing and crucially one of our number had earlier spoken to a French politician and club official so we knew the level of policing, match timings and expected travel problems. All in there were good reasons to head to the ground early, and so we arranged an Uber to take us the 3 miles to the stadium.
An Uber meant we would avoid the rammed Metro and we could get 5 traveling into the cab. We ordered one at 6.30pm which meant an eta of around 7pm at the Stade. Plenty of time to manage the ticket and security checks before making our way to our seats.
Things started to feel tense as the traffic got heavy around a mile or so from the ground. Sirened police vans fought through the traffic and the odd VIP was queue jumped but the rest of us plebs in cars/taxis hit gridlock. Word came through the LFC coach was stuck/late and we got to within 500m of the ground around 7.45pm. People were jumping out of cabs and walking but it was clear pedestrians were not welcome on what was a throughway. Police officers made people climb over barrier to join a parallel road so as to prevent them walking on the road.
Eventually we got next to the stadium and witnessed the chaos of fans at a bottle neck up to the ground. There was plenty of frustration on display, riot police and very little evidence of people moving. From press reports I believe the ground was as this stage "locked down" and that tallies with what we saw.
Knowing that our gates were the opposite end of the stadium and that noone was entering here, we opted to walk around to the next access area. As we walked round riot police barged their way through. Some police were climbing a fence to exit the ground and join them and I offered a hand to one who had a big drop. He refused, landed on his arse and carried on. Sad that football fans are seen so poorly that a genuine offer was refused, but that's his call.
So I'd guess around 8pm we make it to the next entry point. At this point I see maybe a dozen local french youth scaling fences. Some are caught, some are not.
So we get to the entry point and are met with a frustrated crowd. Clearly there are a number of ticketless locals trying to bunk in and no doubt a pick pocket or two. I heard a few fans later say they felt hands going for wallets etc. Saint Denis is in a very deprived part of Paris and it seems some of the locals were likely using the opportunity for petty crime.
Two riot vans are parked and the fans are funneled through to a ticket check and then a bag search. They were set up to check maybe 4 people at a time. They did this and progress was slow, very slow. The bottle neck meant a level of crushing that was always going to be a trigger for anyone who had experienced the crushes at Hillsborough.
A couple of times I thought of leaving but it wasn't at the point of panic. And after maybe 15 minutes I couldn't really have left anyway. Twice a "mobile" of around 20 riot police came and fought their way through the crowd. A few words were exchanged but the officers were following orders and tried not to be overly aggressive. I think the last police made a line say 10 across and 2 deep and I soon found myself pushed up again a riot shield.
After I landed on the riot shield I apologised and said '"pardon" worried I might get a baton and unable to lift my arms to defend myself. I was basically bounced along 3 riot shields to a gap where they were letting people through. I have to say that after Hillsborough that was definitely the least comfortable I have been at a match in 33 years. On a number of times people shouted at others to get back and generally they did. I heard later that that "cordon" collapsed and fans were just let in but I can't verify that. I had my ticket checked twice, was waved through the bag check and made my way onto the concourse, naively thinking all would be good now.
It was 8.30pm and my only concern was we had lost Ade. I wondered if he had turned away but I heard later he got in, albeit shaken up like everyone else. I made my way round to Gate A (as per my ticket) and passed half a dozen gates with barriers and fans queuing but no one seemed to be getting though. I did see a couple more locals jumping fences, probably with a 75% success rate.
When I made it to Gate A I was met with a much less crowded/dangerous queue albeit one that wasn't moving. The people I spoke to were exasperated and some were leaving, scared at what was developing. Ten mins before I got there some fans (as reported to me as French) had jumped a fence and the police had responded with tear gas. Lots of people had sore eyes, but I cant say if it was tear gas or pepper spray. But either way, the police had used one or the other and on fans who were simply waiting to get through a gate.
Everyone seemed to have tickets and when someone suggested climbimg the fence pretty much everyone was like "Why? We have a ticket?" A number of people had been directed from other gates but most were Gate A holders. Word came through of a delay to kickoff as the clock went passed 9pm, local kick off time.
After a few more minutes the queue did start to move but word came that Gate C was clear so I tried that and sure enough was met by 4 moving queues instead of one and I soon got close to the entry point. I first saw a local arguing (his ticket was fake) and they were close to fighting, I grabbed him by shoulders and through him away and a fellow fan went through.
I took my seat at 9.15 and breathed a large sigh of relief. There was no overcrowding in the seats but there were people stood in the aisles. That could have been for a number of reasons, people wanting to stand with mates, people who had been sold fake tickets or people bunking in. Ref the later it is fair to say the ones I witnessed climbing fences were all local youths.
After the game there were reports of people being tear gassed on approaching the station. I think what actually happened was some local youths dropped some pyro into the crowds rather than the police tear gassing anyone. I have been teargassed twice previously and the smell was of pyro. Unpleasant for sure but not the "police attacks" I read about, not where I was. The train station was well organised. Onto the second train and ferried back to the Gare de nord safely and quickly.
A quick note on how it compared to France 98. From memory the organisation was far better then with a wider "exclusion zone" and more checks. I quess this match, like Wembley final for the Euros, attracted a lot more chancers but that is not to excuse the disorganisation and police responses. Serious questions need to be asked and maybe paper tickets need to go for big matches? The initial response from Uefa that fans were late is a downright lie, quickly debunked.
The now reported issues of fake tickets were clearly made worse by some ticketless fans (local from what I saw) and some reactionary and violent police responses. Sadly those
What strikes me is those who broke in seemed to get away with it whilst the police response was to tear gas and spray those with tickets. Press reports of difficulties getting in for dignitaries, players friends and families expose the lies of Uefa. Worse was a report of a journo being made to wipe phone footage he took of some of the chaos. Gladly initial reports seem to be hitting the spot, namely thousands of innocent fans were put in a dangerous position. And those responsible for keeping them safe (Uefa and the French police) failed miserably to do that.
And I have seen up close the result of disorganisation and violent reactionary policing at Hillsborough. It should never be accepted to target innocent fans because of the behaviour of a minority. Organise the fan entry points safely rather than rely on police violence if/when problems occur.
Glad to see the truth emerging and shame on all those who chose to believe and or repeat the lies without stopping to check for themselves the facts. Some morons really have learned nothing 33 years after Hillsborough. And I include every single apologist for the French police in that statement.
My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 14:35 - May 31 by bluelagos
I tweeted exactly the same point yesterday. The idea that Liverpudlians are going to take the blame for something that is someone else's fault...
There was clearly widespread lawlessness and criminality on Saturday - and 99% were locals. It clear to anyone and everyone there.
Luckily the media has been holding the French politicians to account and reporting the restraint and good behaviour of 99% of the LFc fans. Of course those with an agenda will seek to throw mud at the LFC fans. Call it tribalism if you want, but I am happy to call out hateful arseholes for what they are.
I just re-read your '23 years ago' account on your site. Anyone who is willing to let 'tribalism' get in the way of the facts should do the same (and read every blog on there, to be honest, as well as the Guardian article by Conn).
Always the victims isn't funny or clever, and you're a dickhead if you think it is.
My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 14:09 - May 31 by bluelagos
Post game we were chatting about the issue ref Uefa and how it is all about money. An American next to Ade said if this was the states there would be a class action and they'd sue the arse off them. Of course America is a litigious society and tbh, having my money back is of little benefit to me personally.
What I suggested and might just happen, is that sponsors won't be happy. Sponsors get tickets not just for the jolly, but they run promotions and send winners on a lovely trip. I saw playstation reps meeting people at St Pancras on the Friday morning. Not sure if they were for the CL final or off to Monaco but more likely the CL final.
Now assuming they all had problems getting in, assuming some walked away, assuming some were tear gassed etc. am sure the sponsors would be livid. So that may be a route to Uefa.
And we have had influential people like Steve Rotherham speaking out. Check below article (I know Kev well and have met Steve R a few times) which tells a story. Can vouch for Kev personally.
It is a story not just of gross incompetence. Rather of contempt that those in authority hold for ordinary people. Exactly the same contempt the SYP had for ordinary people (and still do imho), people without power, without influence, without a voice.
I keep saying it, those who choose to blindly accept the police/state version of events without question and without evidence are enablers when those in power then go on to abuse their positions of power and influence.
I just read article incidentally.
Nothing more frustrating than having a ticket, just wanting to go to the game and there being chaos.
My experience of the CRS at Euro 2016 was that they are gagging for a scrap.
My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 14:28 - May 31 by bluelagos
About 2/3 weeks ago we had around a dozen TWTD forum members upvote a comment about Liverpool fans - "always the victims"
These people are hateful and they are idiots. And by labeling fans as such they align themselves with the SYP who also chose to malign ordinary fans rather than admit their own failings.
Why? Prejudice and hate from over 40 years ago ffs? If someone had a bad experience of black people, and forty years later was still slagging off black people at every opportunity you'd happily tell them they are ignorant arseholes. I think the exact same of anyone who says "Why always Liverpool", "Always the victim".
They are ignorant hateful arseholes. They don't like it when that it pointed out to them, but as I say in the OP, if the cap fits...
[Post edited 31 May 2022 14:29]
Absolutely mate. I didn't have too many people sticking up for me on there if I'm honest! 😂
But feck 'em. They're the sort of idiots who can't manage a bit of critical thinking so they're not people to spend too much time worrying about
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My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 19:10 - May 31 with 355 views
My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 14:35 - May 31 by bluelagos
I tweeted exactly the same point yesterday. The idea that Liverpudlians are going to take the blame for something that is someone else's fault...
There was clearly widespread lawlessness and criminality on Saturday - and 99% were locals. It clear to anyone and everyone there.
Luckily the media has been holding the French politicians to account and reporting the restraint and good behaviour of 99% of the LFc fans. Of course those with an agenda will seek to throw mud at the LFC fans. Call it tribalism if you want, but I am happy to call out hateful arseholes for what they are.
Calling out hateful a’holes for exactly what they are is as it should be.
It totally up to you, but as you unpack your thoughts on what happened at the weekend, please post them if you feel comfortable in doing so. They’re too important not to.
[Post edited 31 May 2022 19:23]
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My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 19:23 - May 31 with 347 views
My write up from Saturday in Paris CL Final on 11:30 - May 31 by bluelagos
So 33 years ago, all you had to go on was the word/witness accounts of thousands of fans, journalists vs the words of police officers. There was lots of video evidence too, like the stolen video tapes from the control room that only the police and SWFC officials had access too.
Some police actually criticised aspects of policing at Hillsborough, but those accounts were quickly changed, sometimes without the knowledge of the police officers concerned, though many more colluded with those changes.
Then the police of course went about "collecting" evidence to suit their purpose. Photographing bins, visiting pubs to collate evidence of drunkeness. They even blood tested the dead bodies for alcohol, and some people still in hospital.
Key though was to get the establishment onside. The newspapers were fed the disgusting lies from the police, fans had pickpocketed the dead, urinated on the dead etc. Demonise the other side and away you go.
Politicians were next, Sheffield had just one Tory MP, my MP at the time (The well known freemason Irvine Patnick) who is seen with Thatcher and Bernard Ingham the day after at Hillsborough next to (Freemason) Duckenfield and a few other police.
But as well as "public opinion" there's the small matter of a public inquiry. Best make sure any witnesses are of the caliber we need, best try and undermine any evidence that doesn't suit out story.
My own statement has the words "Lagos is 'Left wing' student - comes across as totally anti police" written on it. It is pinned to my twitter account, you can see it for yourself (PM if you want to see it)
Possibly the worse of all was the attempt to mislead the inquiry - an inquiry into how innocent people died. There was a well known and established "Freeman tactic" to close the tunnel when the central pens were full. It was named after the policeman who first did it. In 89 it wasn't used and had it been so there would have been no deaths.
The Wain report that went to the Taylor report was a summary of the police position, largely taken from police statements and procedures. (Drafted by Bettison) It omitted all references to the "Freeman tactic". The police chose not to include that in their evidence to the Taylor inquests.
If I come across as having nothing but contempt for the SYP, it's because it's true - I have nothing but contempt. To try and mislead a public inquiry that is trying to establish the facts and is trying to prevent a reoccurence is beyond contempt.
It is what the police do, they lie and shift the blame onto others when they mess up. It is in their culture, their DNA. Anyone whose first response it to blindly believe a policeman's word without questioning it, is an enabler of how they conduct themselves. They enable the police to behave with impunity.
You are correct that mobile footage makes it much harder now for them to lie, such as when 6 policemen watched Ian Thomlinson being attacked by Simon Harwood and the IPCC released a statement stating there was "no known contact" between them and IT. That Thomlinson died and those officers didn't speak out says a lot about the police. People who tell you it's changed are imho naive in the extreme. It was only an American tourist and his mobile phone that ensured the truth came out.
But anyway, if people are stupid enough to take a policeman's word and assume they are honest that is up to them. I am a numbers person and I know that of 1000+ officers at duty at Hillsborough precisely zero spoke out when their own Fed rep said this.
Tells me that the police are institutionally corrupt, corrupt to the core. Seen or heard nothing in 33 years now to tell me the police are any different now. They lie whenever they need to cover up for their colleagues.
Anybody who has had regular dealings with the firm other than asking for the time (eg...the miners' strike, free festivals/raves/stonehenge, demonstrations) would know this to be true.
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
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