Istanbul (AFP) – Title holders Real Madrid and the rest of Europe's elite clubs will be able to start plotting their route to Champions League glory when the draw for this season's group stage is made in Istanbul on Thursday from 1600 GMT. All going to plan, the journey will end back in the Turkish […]

Paris (AFP) – The last stage of the Champions League qualifying marathon kicks off on Tuesday with three clubs who have already got their hands on the trophy eager to grab one of the last six group slots and the cheque that goes with it. Benfica, who won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962 […]

Paris (AFP) – A French Senate enquiry into chaotic scenes at the Champions League final in May in Paris concluded Wednesday the problems were caused by a "string of dysfunctions" in the organisation, rather than Liverpool supporters as claimed by the government. "These dysfunctions were at every level, not only during the implementation (during the […]

Paris (AFP) – The findings of a French Senate enquiry into the crowd chaos at this year's Champions League final in Paris are set to be published on Wednesday, threatening further embarrassment for the police and under-fire Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. A fact-finding mission led by two senators has been hearing from witnesses since the […]

Marseille (AFP) – Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli has left his position as Marseille coach after guiding them back to the Champions League, the French club announced on Friday. Sampaoli, 62, arrived at the Stade Velodrome in March 2021 and took Marseille to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season. "After 16 months of collaboration, this […]

Paris (AFP) – French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday made a partial apology for chaos at last month's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris, while insisting fake tickets and "delinquency" were mostly to blame. "Should things have been managed better at the Stade de France (stadium)? The answer is yes. […]

Paris (AFP) – A senior UEFA representative said on Tuesday he did not believe French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin's claims about the number of fake tickets in circulation during the chaotic scenes before last month's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Following the game on May 28, Darmanin claimed that between 30,000 and […]

Paris (AFP) – A chain of "failures" by French authorities marred the chaotic Champions League football final in Paris on May 28, inflicting "severe damage" on the image of the country, a government report said Friday. The scenes at the Stade de France "raised questions from outside observers about our country's ability to deliver and […]

Paris (AFP) – Pressure was growing Friday on French authorities after the surprise revelation CCTV footage from the Stade de France during the Champions League final last month has been deleted, with critics alleging a deliberate cover-up. The French Football Federation revealed Thursday to a commission at the French Senate the images had been destroyed […]

Paris (AFP) – CCTV footage from the Stade de France during the Champions League final last month has been deleted, a commission at the French Senate investigating the fiasco heard on Thursday. The French football federation (FFF) revealed video surveillance from the ground had been destroyed — in line with French law that stipulates it […]

Paris (AFP) – The chief of the Paris police acknowledged Thursday the "failure" of security operations for the Champions League final last month, when crowd control problems, tear gas and street crime marred the biggest night in European club football. "It is obviously a failure," Didier Lallement told a commission investigating the fiasco at the […]

Paris (AFP) – French authorities tried to deflect blame and scapegoat Liverpool fans after their "incompetence" caused chaos at the Champions League final last month, the mayor of the Liverpool region told AFP Thursday.  Steve Rotheram, who is set to testify to a French Senate commission by video link later Thursday, said fans were still […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool and Real Madrid fans who were victims of crime at the Champions League final have been told they can file complaints to the French authorities. Numerous supporters attending Real's 1-0 win against Liverpool at the Stade de France on May 28 have alleged they were attacked by gangs of local youths […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA apologised to spectators for the first time on Friday for their "frightening and distressing" experience ahead of the Champions League final, saying no football fan should go through such mayhem. Thousands of supporters were unable to access European club football's showpiece match between despite having genuine tickets, in chaotic scenes that […]

Paris (AFP) – French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin came under pressure on Wednesday over the chaos that marred the Champions League final at the weekend between Liverpool and Real Madrid which he has blamed on ticket scams. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused him of lying and said he should resign after he defended […]