Jurgen Klopp does not think UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin should resign over the shambolic staging of last season's Champions League final.
However, the Liverpool manager suggested the damning review of the Stade de France showpiece might be a resigning matter for someone senior involved in planning the event.
UEFA was found "primarily responsible" for the "near-miss" at the Paris final, where "the parallels between Hillsborough 1989 and Paris 2022" were described in an independent review as "palpable".
The review, commissioned by UEFA, was released on Monday after an investigation into events surrounding the May 28 fixture in the French capital. It concluded UEFA and French authorities were wrong to blame thousands of Liverpool supporters with "fake tickets" for the concerning scenes outside the stadium turnstiles.
French police were criticised for their treatment of fans, which included using tear gas, while the review stated it was "remarkable that no one lost their life".
Klopp suggested the venue was badly chosen in the first instance.
The Reds boss was asked about the review's outcome, which came in a week that saw it confirmed Ceferin would stand unopposed for another stint in the UEFA presidency.
Regarding whether Ceferin should quit, Klopp said: "No. I'm not sure who made the decision, to be honest. I'm the boss of some people as well, and on a lot of things I'm not 100 per cent on the subject. I get information from different people, and then you make a decision. The better the information you get, the better the decisions are.
“I don't think Mr Ceferin made the decision, but somebody put all the papers together saying what the best place is. I can't see him flying to Paris or Rome or Berlin and saying: 'Oh, it's not that good.' There are other people who bring that together. Maybe one of them should have a think if there is not a better place for them in another job, I don't know.
"But I think really Paris was the worst possible [place] available in that specific area on that day. It's not a stadium that is used to it every week, every two weeks, like a lot of big stadiums in Europe are."
Klopp added: "From the first moment, I thought it wasn't a good idea [to play the game in Paris].
"Some people who work there should have done better. Everybody who was there knows the people who worked there didn't know 100 per cent what exactly they are doing."
It’s a great place – Martin Odegaard feels at home at Arsenal after new deal
Martin Odegaard insists it was a “no-brainer” to become the latest Arsenal player to commit his future to the club and is now dreaming of leading his team-mates to trophy success.
The 24-year-old Arsenal skipper has signed a new contract until 2028 as he follows in the footsteps of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba in extending his Emirates Stadium deal.
Odegaard has been pivotal to the club’s transformation into Premier League title challengers, leading by example with 15 goals and seven assists as the Gunners finished second to Manchester City last term.
He has three goals in six appearances already this season and the club announced on Friday that the reward for such fine form was a new five-year deal.
“It was an easy decision for me. As I said many times, I felt connected and I felt at home here since the first day,” said Odegaard, who initially joined on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 before making the move permanent that summer.
“Also I was moving around a lot and struggling to really settle down, so I felt like I needed a place to come and settle down and to kind of find a home.
“That’s what I did here and I felt it from the first day, so it was easy for me to commit. I’m also excited for what we’re doing now and for the future, so I’m really happy.”
Asked about several key players signing contract extensions in recent months, the Norway international added: “It just shows what we’re doing as a club. People want to be here as part of the project.
“What we’re doing is really special and the players see what the manager wants to do and how the club is progressing, the connection we now have with the fans.
“I think it’s a no-brainer for the players to be part of that. With so many hungry young players, it’s a great place to be.
“Of course it’s a good thing. You see the players around you want to be a part of what we’re doing and it shows just how connected we are as a team.
“All the players want the same thing, they want to stay for a long time and really fight for the club and win things together. It shows the family feeling we have.”
While Arsenal topped the table for much of last season before ultimately being pipped by City, the need to win major silverware with such a talented squad is clear.
Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season at the helm and Odegaard knows more is expected of the squad in the coming years.
“I think you can see that now – even though we’re a young team, you can see the quality, the responsibility the players take,” he added.
“Experience is not just about age. It’s also about what you’ve done. I think the young players we have already have a lot of experience. Of course we need to improve all the time.
“But I’m sure with the mentality of all the team, the players, coaching staff, I’m sure we’re just going to get better and better. And I want to be part of that.
“We have a bigger squad with more depth, we can play different ways and we will need the whole squad with so many competitions this season. I’m very confident in what we’re doing.
“Of course I am thinking about it (lifting trophies as Arsenal captain). That is the big dream, the big goal, to win things with the club.
“That’s why I have signed here as well, because I believe we can achieve some great things. That’s the big goal and I am sure if we work hard, we can get to something really nice.”
Football rumours: Jadon Sancho set for cut-price January sale
The clock appears to be ticking on Jadon Sancho’s time at Manchester United. The Daily Star reports United are willing to sell the England winger, 23, in January for less than the £73million they paid Borussia Dortmund.
Another winger is being linked to a move to Old Trafford, with Manchester United among several clubs keen on Club Brugge youngster Antonio Nusa. The Daily Express reports Arsenal and Chelsea are also interested in the 18-year-old Norwegian, who is valued around £30million.
One forward not going anywhere is Son Heung-min. According to the Daily Telegraph, Tottenham are ready to trigger an option in the South Korean’s contract which will keep the 31-year-old at the club for a further year until 2026.
There are comings and goings off the pitch at Tottenham. The Guardian reports chief scout Leonardo Gabbanini has left the club ahead of the appointment of a new sporting director.
Social media round-upPlayers to watchMichail Antonio: Wolves, Everton and Nottingham Forest could step in if the 33-year-old striker fails to agree a new deal at West Ham.
Khephren Thuram: Liverpool and Tottenham are among several top European clubs on the trail of Nice’s 22-year-old France midfielder.
Police searching for three men over break-in at Raheem Sterling’s home
Police are searching for three men suspected of being linked to a break-in at the home of England footballer Raheem Sterling.
Det Insp James Ansell, from Surrey Police, told the BBC detectives are trying to establish the current whereabouts of Albanian nationals Alfred Isufi, 48, Gerard Kalaja, 22, and Henri Osmani, 44.
The trio are being sought for questioning over 33 burglaries throughout Surrey, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire.
Mr Ansell told the BBC: “Investigating burglary dwellings is a priority for Surrey Police and we will be relentless in pursing these offenders.”
Items totalling an estimated £1million are believed to have been taken in the incidents.
These include the burglary of former Manchester City and current Chelsea star Sterling’s home last year.
The break-in happened in Oxshott, Leatherhead, and was reported to police on December 3 during the World Cup in Qatar.
Sterling travelled home from Qatar to be with his family after news of the incident reached him, missing England’s 3-0 win over Senegal on December 4.
On Thursday, a trial date was set for a 23-year-old man who was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary in connection with the break-in Sterling’s home.
Emiliano Krosi, of Ditton Court Road, Southend-on-Sea, appeared at Guildford Crown Court to face 33 counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.
Judge Rufus Taylor adjourned the case for a plea hearing to taking place on November 3 and the two-week trial to start on February 14, 2024.
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