BT Sport issue apology to Liverpool fans over coverage of Champions League final

BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey has apologised to Liverpool supporters for relaying 'false statements' about the chaotic scenes in Paris before last season's Champions League final.  

UEFA conducted a review into the dangerous scenes outside the Stade de France last May, which resulted in kick-off between Liverpool and Real Madrid being delayed by 40 minutes as masses of fans were targeted with teargas and pepper spray by police. 

French authorities and UEFA initially held ticketless Reds fans culpable for the shambolic events that transpired before the final, a narrative which was swiftly ruled out by a number of Sportsmail reporters on the scene in Paris.

During their live coverage on the night, Humphrey and BT Sport repeated statements on the big screen at the Stade de France that kick-off had been delayed due to supporters arriving late at the ground, while reports of fans causing unrest were also mentioned. 

Yet earlier this month Liverpool supporters were officially cleared of any wrongdoing following UEFA's investigation, which declared there is no evidence to support the agenda that was pursued by French authorities in Paris to make them scapegoats and warned fans only narrowly avoided being killed.

An apology to Liverpool fans after the actions around the Champions League final in 2022.

"We are hugely regretful that we were reading out those false statements, the only statements shared on the screens inside the stadium. It was a completely false narrative." pic.twitter.com/86ew2Aoz4j

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 21, 2023

Prior to their reunion with Madrid at Anfield in this season's last-16 on Tuesday, Humphrey issued an on-air apology to Liverpool fans over their coverage of the 2022 final.

'We are hugely regretful that we were reading out those false statements, the only statements shared on the big screens as we were inside the stadium was a completely false narrative,' he said.

'I just want to say sorry to all the people involved in this football club, the stress was added to you because of us sharing that information, which we now know to be completely false.

'The truth is that those football fans that were being accused were out there saving the lives of other football fans, including our family members and our friends.'  

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, working alongside Humphrey for BT Sport on Tuesday, was relieved to see the club's supporters cleared of any blame following UEFA's review, describing the treatment they received in Paris last year as a 'disgrace'.