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O'Hara passionately defends Liverpool fans who were 'mugged and punched' in Paris

talksport.com, 30 May 2022, 09:45
Jamie O'Hara believes that Liverpool's supporters were 'like sitting ducks' after being 'treated like dirt' at the Champions League final.

While Real Madrid came out victorious at the Stade de France in Paris, the occasion was marred by events before and after the final which saw English supporters targeted by French police.

Supporters were forced up against a locked gate shouting at people to sort the situation out and let them in, as huge queues formed amid a distinct lack of security and organisation.

Riot police were in attendance with tear gas and pepper spray being used, while supporters feared for their safety.

With fans forced to wait for up to four hours to make the 10-minute walk from the nearest station to the stadium entrance, being physically and verbally abused on the way.

A statement from UEFA blamed Liverpool's supporters for the chaos, citing the fact that thousands had turned up with fake tickets for the disruption, but according to O'Hara, it's simply not good enough.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, O'Hara said: "It's so bad, it really was.

"Just watching it, it was disturbing to listen to it completely marred the Champions League final in my opinion.

"I ended up watching the stands and watching what was happening there more than watching the game, but it was a really shocking experience for people.

"I know people who have been out there. A friend of mine who has followed Liverpool all over the world, a season ticket holder, a wealthy man and a businessman, he said it was the most horrible experience he's ever had in 35 years of going to a football match.

"He said he saw people getting mugged, he saw men getting punched in front of their kids, he said the police were a disgrace and just looked like they wanted to have a fight with the Liverpool fans.

"He said they were like sitting ducks and he's never seen anything like it - the most horrible experience he's seen at a football match.

"How is that allowed to happen at a Champions League final?

"It's meant to be a celebration for everyone involved, for both clubs and both sets of fans.

"It's not Madrid fans or European fans, how are British fans being treated like complete dirt every single time they go away to Europe?

"It happened to Rangers, it happens to England fans, it's happened to Liverpool fans and people can try to blame Liverpool fans, but it's not the Liverpool fans.

"I know loads of Liverpool fans who were out there, good people, proper football fans and got treated like complete dirt.

"It's about time that British fans stand up and unite to say we're not having this any more in Europe. We're not getting treated like this because we get treated like we're scumbags and treated like we're prisoners to watch a football match."

Ally McCoist added: "There's something about it and I witnessed it myself last Wednesday watching Rangers in Seville.

"You're looking at the police who are effectively there to support, help and protect the supporters at the football stadium and there's a quite unbelievable air of aggression about them the way that they're tooled up, suited up, no smiling or nothing at all.

"There's an aggression about them which is pretty scary to say the least for people like myself, let alone for young kids.

"I can't believe that, talking to people who were at the game, we're talking about a section of Liverpool supporters who have been targeted by the police and bullied and tear gassed.

"Something has to be done about that."

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