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The French sport minister’s top adviser has quit after just a week on the job amid the fallout from mayhem at last week’s Champions League final in Paris.
Philippe Mahe, who had been appointed as adviser to Amelie Oudea-Castera in late May, left her office by ‘mutual agreement’ this week, local media reports.
It comes after Mahe failed to appear alongside Ms Oudea-Castera – who has only held her post for two weeks – during a hearing at the French senate on Wednesday.
Philippe Mahe (left), top adviser to French sport minister Amelie Oudea-Castera (right), has quit after only a week on the job amid fallout over Champions League final fiasco
The hearing had been called so she could be grilled over chaos at the sporting showpiece on Saturday night, alongside Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Both had attempted to blame Liverpool fans and what they described as ‘industrial-scale ticket fraud’ for the issues, while exonerating organisers, police and stewards.
Mr Mahe’s departure was first reported by French news site Le Telegramme, who said he will vacate his role by the end of next week.
Ms Oudea-Castera found herself in the spotlight after Liverpool fans complained of dangerous conditions at the Champions League final against Real Madrid at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Supporters said they waited for hours to get into the stadium in crushed queues while being attacked and in some cases robbed by local trouble-makers.
The game had to be delayed twice while the chaos was sorted out, with police ultimately deploying tear gas to regain order.
French authorities admit some 2,700 people with legitimate tickets for the game ended up missing out on their seats.
Ms Oudea-Castera and Mr Darmanin immediately tried to blame fans for the chaos, saying up to 45,000 had arrived with fake tickets and then attacked police and stewards when they were refused entry.
Liverpool fans queued for hours, were ketteled and eventually tear gassed as they tried to get into the Stade de France for last Saturday’s game
French ministers immediately tried to blame fans for the trouble, saying tens of thousands had arrived with fake tickets and then attacked stewards when they were denied entry
But fan groups, lawyers, UK police observers and even French officials who helped organise other parts of the event have rubbished those excuses, saying supporters’ behaviour was exemplary and poor organisation was to blame.
The French government is particularly keen to avoid criticism of how it handled the event as it prepares to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup and 2024 Olympics.
Ms Oudea-Castera and Mr Darmanin were summoned before the Senate on Thursday to justify their excuses, and continued to blame what they called a ‘small part of Liverpool’s supporters’ who ‘pose public order problems’.
Mr Darmanin did admit to organisational failings at the game, and said he regretted the ‘disproportionate’ use of tear gas while vowing that officers will be sanctioned.
Meranwhile Oudea-Castera highlighted crowd trouble at Wembley Stadium last year during the Euros final between England and Italy in an attempt to deflect criticism.
‘We need to remember all of that,’ Oudea-Castera told the hearing.
But senators were not impressed with their reasoning, and today Real Madrid joined Liverpool’s calls for authorities to take full responsibility for the fiasco.
Ms Oudea-Castera was grilled over the chaos in the French senate on Wednesday, and tried to shift blame by reminding people of trouble at last year’s Euro final at Wembley
In a statement published ‘in defence of supporters’, Madrid said its fans had been left at the mercy of looters near the stadium and demanded to know ‘who was responsible for leaving the fans helpless and defenceless.’
‘What should have been a great celebration of football for all the fans who attended the game turned into unfortunate events that have caused deep outrage around the world,’ the club said.
‘As has been clearly seen in the revealing images offered by the media, many of the fans were violently assaulted, harassed and robbed.
‘Some (of these) events also took place when they were driving in their cars or on buses, fearing for their physical well-being.
‘Some of them even had to spend the night in the hospital for injuries received.
‘Football has transmitted to the world an image far removed from the values and objectives that it must always pursue.
‘Our followers and fans deserve a response and that the relevant responsibilities be taken so that situations like the ones experienced are eradicated forever from football and sport.’
UEFA, football’s governing body in Europe, has commissioned an independent report into what happened at the game.
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