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Thursday October 16, 2008

Liverpool unhappy with Atletico stadium ban

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool have complained that UEFA’s decision to move next week’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid to a neutral venue 300km from the Spanish capital will unfairly penalise their travelling fans.

The Oct 22 match is set to be moved after UEFA imposed a three-match (one suspended) stadium ban and a �150,000 fine on Atletico as punishment for the racist abuse directed at Marseille’s black players during a match on Oct 1.

“To say the decision is a bit late in the day is to put it mildly,” Liverpool’s chief executive, Rick Parry, said.

“We have 3,000 fans going to the game and we are extremely concerned for our supporters, the vast majority of whom have already made travel arrangements. If the match is played at least 300km from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and large additional expense for our fans.

“UEFA have to take their needs into account when making a final decision on the game.”

Fernando Torres (pic), the Liverpool forward who was previously an Atletico star, also expressed disappointment with UEFA’s decision, which may mean him missing out on a return to his former club.

“After so much time waiting, it is the worst and most unexpected news that I could have heard this morning,” the 24-year-old said.

“I’m eager to go back. I don’t know if it is definitive, I hope that a solution can be found.

“It is a shame that these incidents have forced the stadium to be closed, but if this is what happens then we have to accept it.”

The sanctions imposed on Atletico were the toughest yet from UEFA in their efforts to eradicate racism from European football.

In addition, the Spanish club’s coach, Javier Aguirre, has been banned for his club’s home and away fixtures against Liverpool for insulting Marseille player Mathieu Valbuena.

Atletico have until tomorrow to register an appeal against any or all of the sanctions, which have been welcomed by campaigners against racism in football.

“This is a momentous decision,” said the former Celtic and Chelsea defender, Paul Elliott.

“I and other leading players in the game €” black and white €” fully support the actions that UEFA have taken and urge all governing bodies to work with us to make sure that racism is effectively eradicated.”

UEFA’s action against Atletico came the day after England’s Football Association said they wanted a possible friendly in Spain next year played outside of Madrid because of the abuse black English players received during a match at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu in 2004. €” AFP

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