Spanish Racists Upset Scouse Travel Plans

[Fulham Broadway 16,894]

Liverpool fans fume at Uefa move

By Sam Lyon

Supporters' plans for the match against Atletico have been thrown into disarray

Liverpool fans' plans for next week's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid are in "tatters" after Uefa switched the game to a neutral venue.

Uefa has imposed a two-match home ban on Atletico after trouble at their last Champions League game versus Marseille.

It means the Reds' match next Wednesday must be played 200 miles from Madrid.

"It is an utterly ridiculous decision so late in the day," chairman of the Liverpool Supporters' Club Richie Pedder told BBC Sport.

"We probably have three to four thousand fans going out to Madrid for the match. The flights will have been booked, the hotels will have been arranged, and now it's in tatters. What are they supposed to do now?

"I guess we're left with two options - change the destination of where the fans are flying in to, or to arrange coaches or some other form of transport from Madrid to wherever the new venue will be.

"But who does that? Uefa? The club? The fans themselves through the travel agents? It's a mess."

The timing of the decision to switch the match, just eight days before the game, could be worsened by the fact Atletico have the right to appeal until 17 October, meaning a final decision may not be made until the weekend.

Should the ruling be upheld, supporters will be denied the chance to witness former Atletico striker Fernando Torres turning out at what used to be his home stadium.

606: DEBATE Don't get me wrong, it's good to see Uefa take action against racism... but in terms of the decision to move the match then once again football fans get treated like dirt

purescousemachine"Don't forget this is Torres's return to Atletico and his former home ground," said Pedder, "and a lot of people will have booked to see the match on the strength of that. Now it's been taken away and that is another added disappointment.

"If Uefa were going to make this decision, they should have given some thought to the fans. Let's be honest, when it comes down to it, Uefa have erred."

Liverpool have written to Uefa to express their concerns over the switch, with chief executive Rick Parry admitting: "If the match is played at least 300km from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and large additional expense for our fans."

However, Pedder is keen for the club to address any potential travel and accommodation problems the fans may encounter, saying: "The hope is that the club will put out a statement looking at those issues.

"We don't want them waiting a day or two to decide what to do. All Liverpool fans will want to know what is going to happen should the game be switched as soon as possible and will want things put in motion."

Alright, Caaalm down, Caaalm down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hYIMj-v218

[Elliott 7]

Well it is a bit unfair really. This ruling affects Liverpool as much as it does Atletico, and as such is the wrong decision.

It should be played behind closed doors in Madrid, except for Liverpool fans with season tickets or something like that.

[Fulham Broadway 16,894]

UEFA in their usual wisdom dont give a shit about the fans....

[Joe Cool 388]

I hope liverpool get battered

[Joe Cool 388]

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo is confident next week's UEFA Champions League match with Liverpool will go ahead at the Vicente Calderon, despite the stadium ban imposed by Uefa.

The Spanish side were issued a three-match stadium ban, along with a fine of around £120,000, for incidents during their Champions League home clash with Marseille at the beginning of this month.

Those incidents included outbreaks of violence between Marseille fans and Spanish police after the latter removed a banner that featured a prohibited symbol, as well as accusations from Marseille officials and players that they had been racially abused by the Atletico fans.

Uefa have ruled Atletico's next two Champions League home matches - with a third suspended - cannot be played within 200 miles of Madrid.

The news has provoked outrage from Atletico and Liverpool officials with the game due to be played next Wednesday.

However, Cerezo is optimistic the game will not have to be moved and the tie will go ahead in Madrid after appealing Uefa's decision.

Appeal

"The Atleti-Liverpool game will be played at the Vicente Calderon," Cerezo told Marca."We will appeal. I have faith that Uefa will do the right thing. I hope they will listen to both sides evenly."

Meanwhile, Atletico have received support from local rivals Real Madrid over the stadium ban.

Real president Ramon Calderon believes Atletico are being unfairly punished for the behaviour of Marseille fans.

"It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans," Calderon told Marca.

Real full-back Michel Salgado added: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd.

"I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent.

"We'll have to wait to see what Uefa does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

Release

Marseille have voiced their approval for the sanctions imposed on Atletico by Uefa."Above all the decision is a release," said Marseille chairman Pape Diouf.

"It confirms what happened in the Vicente Calderon is inadmissible and unacceptable, both considering the organisation and racist behaviour we were victims of.

"Once again those sanctions show nothing happened normally on that day."

Coach Eric Gerets echoed his supremo's words: "It is fantastic news. It is a shame to be forced to give such harsh sanctions, but racism can't be present in a football stadium."

Fuck off you racist Spanish cunts.

Edited October 15, 2008 by Joe Cool

[terry26 6]

funny the same thing happens at Barca and Real Madrid but ive never seen them getting bans imposed

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I honestly think that the Liverpool fans are being treated unfairly; if the same thing happened to us with our game away in Rome, we'd all be absolutely livid. Feel sorry for the Scousers who have spent all the money to go and watch the game, (that being said, its all fucking benefits anyway,) its totally unfair treatment and shows UEFA live up to their name: the Ultimate European Fucking Arseholes.

[terry26 6]

i agree - for them to do this now is ridiculous

sure they realise that people spent their money planning this trip and getting tickets - are uefa going to be able to give those people their travel and ticket money back

[Fulham Broadway 16,894]

UEFA lifted the ban now. How unusual for them to do something that benefitted Liverpool ?

I think they should give the CL trophy to them for the inconvenience and distress caused.

[terry26 6]

I think they should give the CL trophy to them for the inconvenience and distress caused.

would not surprise me

[Joe Cool 388]

UEFA lifted the ban now. How unusual for them to do something that benefitted Liverpool ?

I think they should give the CL trophy to them for the inconvenience and distress caused.

No way they should have lifted the ban. WHEN those Spanish cunts do their racial chants, FIFA will show their so-called authority by fining them less then 30 fucking thousand pounds :thumbsdown:

[Drogba11CFC 108]

Come to think of it, how much were Porto fined for racial abuse by their fans towards Drogba in 2004/05? Wasn't it someting like £25,000? or more like £2.50?

[Fulham Broadway 16,894]

Very true. The authorities fines for racism are pitiful. Werent Croatia fined £15 000 for the constant racist abuse at SWP, Heskey etc ?

[Joe Cool 388]

Very true. The authorities fines for racism are pitiful. Werent Croatia fined £15 000 for the constant racist abuse at SWP, Heskey etc ?

Something like that. 15,000 pounds will do fuck all :thumbsdown:

[Elliott 7]

No way they should have lifted the ban. WHEN those Spanish cunts do their racial chants, FIFA will show their so-called authority by fining them less then 30 fucking thousand pounds :thumbsdown:

Yeah but come on, this ban was punishing the Liverpool fans more than the Atletico fans.

The ban needs to stand, but they were too late to issue it straight away. UEFA fucked up, and thankfully they've realised this, but they need to do something.

[Hingis 0]

Don't get me wrong but why do we care about the match Atletico - Loserfool ? *dunno*

[Elliott 7]

If it happens to them it could happen to us you know?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Yeah but come on, this ban was punishing the Liverpool fans more than the Atletico fans.

The ban needs to stand, but they were too late to issue it straight away. UEFA fucked up, and thankfully they've realised this, but they need to do something.

Atletico should be fined CL group stage points, IMO. That would solve the problem.