Liverpool FC are urging all fans who attended the Champions League final in Paris in May to seek mental health support should they feel the need.
The club have launched a new mental health toolkit which “provides additional support for fans suffering from the continuing effects of the events surrounding the Champions League final”. Liverpool fans were caught up in ugly scenes outside the Stade de France ahead of the game against Real Madrid.
The Reds then lost the match 1-0.
READ MORE: Liverpool legend went ‘near death’ in Champions League final
Kick off was delayed three times with thousands of empty seats at Liverpool. A message from UEFA inside the stadium initially said kick-off had been delayed due to “the late arrival of fans at the stadium”.
However, the excuse was criticized by Reds fans, who were also the target of tear gas by French police, with many blaming the UEFA organization and the police as the reason for the trouble. UEFA have continued to try to blame Liverpool fans for the chaos – despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Despite previously apologizing to Liverpool and Real Madrid supporters for the chaotic and dangerous organization before and after the Stade de France final, UEFA’s head of events Martin Kallen continued to make discredited statements about fake tickets and the behavior of LFC supporters earlier this week.
Thousands of Reds fans were forced into dangerously cramped spaces outside the Stade de France before being targeted with tear gas and pepper spray by French police. After the match, a number of fans were attacked and robbed by local gangs, without police protection.
Now the LFC, in close collaboration with the LFC Foundation and Liverpool Director of Public Health Matt Ashton, has launched a new resource for supporters following the harrowing events in Paris.
The club said they have also pledged financial help to organizations that are already in high demand and want supporters to know that expert help continues to be available. Matt Parish, chief executive of the LFC Foundation, said: “It’s extremely important that supporters know there is help out there if they need it.
“In collaboration with a number of expert mental health organizations and with the support of the expertise of Matt Ashton, this latest resource is available to all fans. It not only tells people where to go for help , but also offers advice for those coping with the ongoing effects of such a harrowing event.
The Mental Health Toolkit can be accessed here.
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