The Football Association has been called on to urge the president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, to step down by Liverpool MP Ian Byrne, following concerns of alleged cronyism and safety issues surrounding the 2022 Champions League final. Byrne has also asked for the removal of Zeljko Pavlica, the head of safety and security for UEFA, with concerns raised about his appointment and level of experience. Thousands of supporters at the match experienced long queues, dangerous policing, and attacks by local thugs, according to reports. Following the incident, a review panel appointed by UEFA made 21 recommendations for future improvement.
In a letter to the chief executive of the FA, Mark Bullingham, Byrne criticised UEFA for “seriously endangering” supporters due to the “cronyism” of Pavlica’s appointment, and asked for steps to be taken to ensure that “this culture of cronyism is eradicated”. Pavlica is best friends with Ceferin, and there have been concerns regarding his level of expertise in his role. Pavlica had been appointed to a full-time safety role at UEFA after Ceferin was elected president in 2016 and became head of safety and security in 2021 without going through a formal recruitment process.
In response to Byrne’s letter, the FA has stated that they have called on UEFA to adopt in full the review panel’s recommendations for improved safety, and planning is already well under way for the Champions League final in 2024. UEFA has previously implemented an action plan following the review panel’s recommendations for safety improvement, and Pavlica is understood to be moving to a different role within UEFA shortly.
Byrne has warned that the situation has “parallels with Hillsborough”, and has called on the FA to ensure that Liverpool supporters are not let down again, urging the FA to call for the removal of Pavlica and for Ceferin to “consider his position”, in the interest of all football fans across Europe. UEFA has not yet commented on Byrne’s letter