BT Sport issue apology to Liverpool fans for their coverage of last season’s Champions League final
BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey has apologised to Merseyside Reds fans on behalf of the channel for their coverage of last season’s UCL final.
Vinicius Jr’s. goal in Paris back in May was enough to give the Los Blancos a 1-0 vcitory and their 14th European trophjes.
The game was marred by scenes outside the Stade de France before kick-off, with local police using tear gas and pepper spray on fans during a ticketing delay.
It saw the game delayed by 37 minutes and initial reports claimed the Merseyside Reds fans caused the issue. An independent report later concluded UEFA were responsible for the incident.
BT Sport received criticism for their coverage of the match, which the broadcaster apologised for in a statement. It said: “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.”
Humphrey, who is lead presenter for BT Sport’s Champions League coverage, added to this ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
He explained: “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…
“If lessons aren’t learned, then next time that this happens there could be even more of a tragedy than we saw on that night in Paris.
“So let’s hope those lessons are taken on board, absolutely. It can’t be repeated enough: Liverpool fans [are] absolutely not to blame for what happened that night, despite the initial messaging that came from the governing body (UEFA).”