Paris police chief Didier Lallement replaces after chaotic Champions League final for Liverpool and Real Madrid fans before game kicks off | Football news
Didier Lallement will be officially replaced as Paris police chief on Thursday, saying he was “injured by the defeat” at the Stade de France in the Champions League final.
Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool was overshadowed by crowd problems before and after the game as Reds fans, including young children, were crushed, pepper sprayed and denied entry. door despite holding a valid ticket.
Lallement attributed the behavior of Liverpool supporters to a major factor in the defeat but later apologized to them in June, saying he was “the only one responsible” for the incidents.
Didier Lallement to be replaced as Paris police chief
His departure is not directly related to the events in Saint-Denis as he has informed his troops that he will be retiring this summer before his 66th birthday on May 27. 8.
Gerald Darmanin, the French Interior Minister, praised Lallement for his work and confirmed he would be replaced by former Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.
“The President of the Republic, at my request, has appointed Laurent Nunez as Chief of Police,” he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
“It was the choice of a man with experience, a good understanding of the Police District and a man who held many national responsibilities. The safety of the people of Ile-de-France will be our priority.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Didier Lallement for his actions, under difficult conditions, in the context of a significant terrorist threat, in the position of head of the Provincial Police for the past three years. . He is a service to the Republic.”
Liverpool fans, including children, were crushed, pepper sprayed and denied entry to the final.
In a letter to police officers on Wednesday, Lallement said he left office with the eventual defeat the only stain on his three-and-a-half-year tenure.
“I am still wounded by the defeat of the Stade de France,” the letter was published by AFP.
“Certainly, we saved lives that evening, but the country’s reputation was damaged. The downing of the French flag was a pain for me and a responsibility I had to shoulder. .”
Darmanin went on to blame Liverpool fans for the violence, alleging that 35,000 people bought fake tickets – but last week a scathing report by the French Senate said this was to “divert attention”. from organizational failures.
