Liverpool begin issuing UEFA refunds for their tickets to last season's Champions League final, after fans were subjected to tear gas and huge delays trying to get into Paris' Stade de France - with the body facing £3.5MILLION bill

Liverpool are starting to facilitate refunds from UEFA for tickets bought by their fans for the disastrous 2021-22 Champions League final.

The showpiece game against Real Madrid was overshadowed by the chaos and horror that fans were subjected to trying to get in, with European football's governing body, UEFA, absolving Liverpool fans of any blame back in February, admitting it was their fault.

UEFA made the unprecedented move to announce refunds for supporters back in March - in a move that will likely cost millions - but the process of getting the money back has now begun. 

In an email sent to ticket holders for the Paris final - seen by Mail Sport - Liverpool revealed they are starting the process to refund tickets and any additional postage fees from April 20.

Supporters in Paris that night were subjected to horrendous crowd control and were targeted by tear gas, with an independent report commissioned by UEFA concluding that only the calmness of Liverpool fans prevented a 'mass fatality catastrophe'.

'Thank you for your patience while we have waited for UEFA to provide us with information about refunds on tickets purchased for the UEFA Champions League Final 2022,' the email reads. 

'As you made a booking directly through Liverpool Football Club, we can confirm that, on behalf of UEFA, we will refund the cost of your ticket(s) and any postage fees from, Thursday 20 April. Refunds will be repaid to the payment card that was used in the original booking.'

Since the independent report verdict arrived, UEFA have apologised and promised to implement its recommendations - but the refunding of tickets is the most substantive act of contrition and will cost Europe's governing body millions of pounds. 

Top price tickets were €690 or £610 and cheapest were €70 or £62 meaning UEFA's bill for the 19,618 tickets issued to Liverpool fans is likely to cost around £3.5million. 

Liverpool fans' groups Spirit of Shankly and the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association both campaigned on behalf of supporters caught up in the chaos and now fans will begin to get their money back.

In a statement last month those fans' groups said: 'Spirit of Shankly and the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association welcome today's announcement from UEFA that they are to refund all Liverpool FC ticket holders who attended the Champions League final in Paris in May 22.

'This unprecedented move is the result of tireless work, alongside FSE and Ian Byrne MP, to hold those responsible for the catastrophic events in Paris.

'With a promise to reimburse supporters, UEFA have gone some way to acknowledging their part in the fiasco.

'But it does not excuse UEFA, exempt them from criticism or lessen the need for them to implement all of the recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry.

'We will work alongside LFC and publish details once we know how and when refunds will be processed.'