Real Madrid issued this Thursday a harsh statement against UEFA in response to the compensation program announced by the organization for those affected by security failures in the last Champions League final. The merengue team considers the ticket reimbursement plan “insufficient” for those who suffered the consequences of what it considers a “deficient organization” of the event.
“Our club considers the UEFA proposal is insufficientofficially communicated last Tuesday and which consists exclusively of the reimbursement of the price of the tickets, which is also conditioned by the fulfillment of a series of requirements, among which is included demonstrating the time of access to the stadium”, published the white club on its website.
“On February 13, 2023, a report prepared by a team of experts appointed by UEFA was made public. After having examined extensive documentation and carried out the tests it deemed appropriate, this team of experts concluded that, among other institutions, UEFA itself is directly responsible for what happened in the vicinity of the stadium”, begins the statement referring to the final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 28.
“This report makes UEFA responsible for the arbitrary choice of the venue and for the organization of the final itself, whose serious deficiencies endangered the safety and physical integrity of the fans who attended the meeting. Many of them were victims of theft of tickets and personal effects such as bags, telephones and wallets. And what is more serious, some of these fans suffered physical attacks that required medical attention and hospitalization,” he continues.
Real Madrid has decided not to collaborate in the limited compensation procedure promoted by UEFA
“Given the forcefulness of the experts’ conclusions and the seriousness of the facts described, Real Madrid has been holding talks with UEFA with the aim of assessing the compensation that would be offered to the fans. Our club was confident at all times that said solutions would be commensurate with the seriousness of the factsof the scope of the damages caused and of the responsibility of UEFA for all this”, adds, before describing like “insufficient” the proposal of the UEFA.
“The content of the report, which was requested by UEFA itself, highlights that all the fans who attended the final were victims of its deficient organization and saw their safety and physical integrity compromised,” he points out.
“For this reason”, he adds, “beyond 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 behavior of the fans of the two clubs, the reality is that all the fans suffered an unacceptable delay at the start of the match, in addition to the unacceptable insecurity both in accessing the stadium and in their evacuation, together with serious additional damages such as robberies, assaults and threats”.
Real Madrid announces that “has decided not to collaborate in the limited compensation procedure promoted by UEFA” while asking him “to rectify and assume full responsibility” for what happened.
“Under these circumstances, in the next few days a telematic assistance service will be enabled so that all Real Madrid members and fans who suffered damages of any kind in the 2022 Champions League final in Paris can assess the appropriate claims against UEFA in defense of their legitimate personal interests. The club will communicate the details of the aforementioned assistance service in the coming days,” the statement concluded.
