Liverpool FC Forum

[Redman in wales]

I have stated a new thread with this because it will affect us and every person who has already booked flights, hotels etc....

bbc:

Reds face Atletico ground switch


Liverpool's Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid must play their next two home matches away from the Calderon Stadium as a result of racist abuse.

The Uefa ban follows the treatment of Marseille fans during and after Atletico's 2-1 win a fortnight ago.

Monkey chants were aimed at the French club's players, while the Marseille team bus was attacked after the match.

The Liverpool game, on 22 October, will be held at a neutral venue 200 miles from Madrid which has yet to be chosen.

The Spanish club have also been fined a record 150,000 euros by European governing body Uefa, while the punishment could be extended to a third home match should there be further trouble at the club within five years.

The decision to move the Liverpool game from Madrid will deny former Atletico striker Fernando Torres the chance to return to his former home ground when the Reds look to maintain their 100% start to their European campaign next month.

Atletico must also play PSV away from the Vicente Calderon Stadium on 26 November.

"Atletico are shocked by the news," reports BBC Radio 5 Live's Ashish Sharma.

"Basically Uefa are unhappy with the way the police treated Marseille fans. They forced them to remove banners and they refused to escort the team bus from the training ground to the stadium, which was then attacked.

Uefa spokesman on the fine given to Croatian FA last month
"The coach (Javier Aguirre) has also been banned for two matches (home and away against Liverpool) for abusing a Marseille player and there has been a record £150,000 fine for Marseille for monkey chanting and racist abuse by the fans."

A Uefa spokesman said the ruling was part of the organisation "acting with renewed strength" against racism.

News of the suspension comes a day after the Football Association refused to sanction a plan to stage an England friendly against Spain in Madrid because of the racist abuse suffered by the likes of Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips the last time they played there.

The punishment appears to be a lot harsher than that imposed upon Croatia a month ago.

Their FA was fined just £15,000 by world governing body Fifa after their supporters aimed monkey chants at Emile Heskey during England's World Cup qualifying 4-1 victory.

However, Gaillard denied "double standards", saying: "That was a Fifa fine, not a Uefa fine.

"We have no direct influence on Fifa decisions at all. But if we had been in charge, the punishment would have been a lot heavier."

[Leonmc0708]

Typically shortsighted from UEFA.

One eek before we travel with everyone booked - its moved ?

[GYBS]

Surely they mean the game next week as the game on the 4th will be held at a venue a lot further than 200m as its at Anfield on the 4th november

[Sabre]

I'm happy for the red fans, because whatever they go it will be safer.

Most Atletico fans are decent, but they have the worst of Spain behind their goal. At the same time, Atletico has one of the best atmospheres, so I would have liked to see Liverpool winning there.

300Km?..... Tough one.

The big stadiums are in Madrid or Barcelona. They won't go to Barcelona.

Zaragoza or Valladolid spring to mind as alternative...

[NANNY RED]

This is a joke How are we gonna get to were ever its gonna be. Im fumin here

[Redman in wales]

Surely they mean the game next week as the game on the 4th will be held at a venue a lot further than 200m as its at Anfield on the 4th november

the bbc got their dates wrong. its now been edited on the bbc web page - so I've edited on this story on here as well so know one else gets confused

[f9Torres]

the french press has pressed to Platini because of the cops aggresions, there is a OM fan prison jet...and they confused the supporters shout "kun Kun Kun" with the racist "uh uh uh".

[Sabre]

the french press has pressed to Platini because of the cops aggresions, there is a OM fan prison jet...and they confused the supporters shout "kun Kun Kun" with the racist "uh uh uh".

Kun, Kun, Kun, sounds a lot like cúnt, cúnt, cúnt, so beware of the English

Also, wasn't the security a joint mission? I read that there were not only Spanish police, but also French Policemen.

[andy_g]

I'm happy for the red fans, because whatever they go it will be safer.

Most Atletico fans are decent, but they have the worst of Spain behind their goal. At the same time, Atletico has one of the best atmospheres, so I would have liked to see Liverpool winning there.

300Km?..... Tough one.

The big stadiums are in Madrid or Barcelona. They won't go to Barcelona.

Zaragoza or Valladolid spring to mind as alternative...

valladolid would be great for me because its only a couple of hours by car. aren't valladolid and zaragoza small grounds though? surely the mestalla in valencia would be more appropriate... or even bilbao.

[f9Torres]

sabre i don't know what you say about police. It started because the person in charge of the security decided to quit a flag with had a skull...So the cops were in that way to do it. And there were problems to with the cops in the Bolton match last year, and Aberdeen match too... The security is joint mission with the club too and it is not working...

[Redman in wales]

UEFA move Liverpool FC's Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid
Oct 14 2008 EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett Liverpool Echo

Atletico are appealing against the decision, but early indications are that the game is now likely to take place in Valencia.

Reds chief executive Rick Parry told the ECHO: “This is a bit late in the day to say the least. It will be some exercise to sort the logistics for everyone who has bought tickets and flights.”

Liverpool were today contacting UEFA with the utmost urgency to ask them to take into account the needs of the fans who will be the innocent victims of this decision if Atletico’s appeal is unsuccessful.

Parry added: “We are extremely concerned for our supporters, the vast majority of whom have already made travel arrangements.

“What thought is being given to their needs? We are writing to UEFA to express our concern on this score.”

[woof woof !]

Tough action from Uefa and given the circumstances, Torres returning to Atletico, one that will be felt more keenly by their fans than just a fine being slapped on the club.

Bad news for the decent Atletico support, travelling Liverpool fans and possibly El Nino but ultimately maybe good news for LFC, as the change of venue surely improves our chances of winning this one.

[Sabre]

I'm happy for the red fans, because whatever they go it will be safer.

Most Atletico fans are decent, but they have the worst of Spain behind their goal. At the same time, Atletico has one of the best atmospheres, so I would have liked to see Liverpool winning there.

300Km?..... Tough one.

The big stadiums are in Madrid or Barcelona. They won't go to Barcelona.

Zaragoza or Valladolid spring to mind as alternative...

valladolid would be great for me because its only a couple of hours by car. aren't valladolid and zaragoza small grounds though? surely the mestalla in valencia would be more appropriate... or even bilbao.

Yeh, mate, you're right. When it comes to size, Valencia and Sevilla or Bilbao are more suitable, but they have 3 extra hours driving aswell so I didn't count them at the beginning. My point was that the biggest stadiums are in Madrid, or in the coast, but I tried to find the biggest that are within 300 Km more or less.

Valladolid is not that small, in fact it was one of the host cities in 1982 world cup. I was trying to think in the biggest stadiums from those which are close enough, at that 300Km range. Because at that range you have stadiums like Numancia, Toledo, which are really small.

Valencia is possibly the best option for them but they have a long trip. Bilbao would be absolutely great for me because I could come back home right after the match and be able to work next day. But Bilbao wasn't viable for security reasons, as Atletico fans are not welcome there.

[RUSHIE#9]

The only goodf thing about this is that the team may find it an easier game now, away from the cauldron at the calderon (see what I did there ) Atletico won't be as strong.

To make this decision just 7 days before the game though is fucking ludicrous to say the least. Organising these trips takes fans weeks and months and the travel companies won't make it easy or cheap for them to alter so late.

It's yet more evidence that UEFA couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.
Surely at this late stage the game could've been played with only our fans allowed into the stadium. I seem to remember this happening to one of the Milanese clubs a couple of years back after the Milan derby semi-final when Dida got hit by a flare.

Bloody useless lot at UEFA!

[Bad Bob]

Great for the team, terrible for the supporters (and I feel bad for Torres too).  At least UEFA are trying to send a message, even if the timing could have been better.