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Dnevnik Express
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Is the European Football Association (UEFA) providing false evidence about security problems at the 2022 Champions League final, asked Britain’s Guardian newspaper, which published excerpts of internal communications
The European body has been accused by one of its former employees of presenting “completely false evidence” during the investigation into the incidents before the match between “Real” (Madrid) and “Liverpool” (1:0).
The final match of the tournament in 2022 was delayed by more than 30 minutes due to a security issue. Then the Liverpool fans did not manage to enter the stadium in time. UEFA later apologized and launched an investigation.
According to the Guardian, the falsified evidence in this investigation is for a single purpose – to protect the Slovenian Zeljko Pavlica, the head of UEFA’s safety and security department and a close friend of the president, Aleksandar Ceferin.
These harsh accusations were made by Sharon Burkhalter-Lau, who was UEFA’s director of operations and event management in May 2022 but resigned four months ago. The report of the experts in charge of the investigation, appointed by UEFA, essentially stated that Burkhalter-Lau’s department was responsible.
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UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin is currently in Cyprus
Burkhalter-Lau said the evidence signed by UEFA was part of a “joint defense strategy” by the department headed by Ceferin’s friend.
After the publication of the material by “Guardian”, UEFA immediately came out with a position.
The European association insisted that its officials had given evidence “in good faith”.
“The panel and UEFA more broadly have had numerous discussions about the events in Paris, some of which have reflected different views of the events and actions on the night in question. Some of the differences have also reflected the evidence presented by various directors of departments at UEFA , but they were given in good faith and to the best of the individuals’ knowledge and recollection. The investigators then reached their own conclusion and the report and recommendations were published on 13 February 2023,” UEFA said in response.
