Not liking the reports coming out from Athens

[Guest]

were you? why is everyone assuming that we were in the wrong ffs!

ps **** off yerself

No I wasn't, and that's why I'll be applying some common sense to it all. Even if the stadium was 200,000 big there would still have been problems and fans whining about not getting tickets etc ...

Please use your intelligence instead of spouting bollocks mate. Sorry, you did talk crap fella.

And I ain't taking what UEFA says as being the truth, but there was clearly trouble last night, by a minority who were tarnishing our image.

[alunevans]

**** right off - I don't care who's head I'm doing in - People who took out loans to travel and didn't get in with valid tickets because of troublemaking scum are the ones that are at the loss here. SCUM that mug fellow fans and cause fights are SCUM - I don't care where they are from.

i just think yers are all way too quick to believe the "official" portrayal.

way too quick!

the lad on sky who didn't get in didn't get in due to "troublemaking".

he was banned from getting in because the stadium was "full".

why was it full? because people were buying black market tickets in athens, and many of those will have been forgeries bought unwittingly that got past the stewards.

the scum are the touts, and UEFA who made this a tout's paradise, and then pin the blame on us when it all goes wrong.

if you want to be shoulder to shoulder with them pricks then thats up to you.

[alunevans]

Look past it then mate. Can't be over looked, Facts or no facts can still talk about what we've seen or heard.

What have we seen and heard?

[Guest]

i just think yers are all way too quick to believe the "official" portrayal.

way too quick!

the lad on sky who didn't get in didn't get in due to "troublemaking".

he was banned from getting in because the stadium was "full".

why was it full? because people were buying black market tickets in athens, and many of those will have been forgeries bought unwittingly that got past the stewards.

the scum are the touts, and UEFA who made this a tout's paradise, and then pin the blame on us when it all goes wrong.

if you want to be shoulder to shoulder with them pricks then thats up to you.

Do you have a better solution ?? Build a 500,000 seater stadium ?

[alunevans]

No I wasn't, and that's why I'll be applying some common sense to it all. Even if the stadium was 200,000 big there would still have been problems and fans whining about not getting tickets etc ...

Please use your intelligence instead of spouting bollocks mate. Sorry, you did talk crap fella.

And I ain't taking what UEFA says as being the truth, but there was clearly trouble last night, by a minority who were tarnishing our image.

like i said in another thread, its funny there was none in istanbul when things were better organised.

and if i was outside the stadium with a valid ticket that had already been through three security checks and then told that i couldn't get in, would i go ape****? too ****ing right i would!!

[dom9]

Crikey girls. Calm down.

Uefa are inept, that does not excuse disgraceful behaviour.

We should be better than that.

[Kinell]

What have we seen and heard?

I'm sure you have seen snippets on tv to.

[Craig_H]

Right, i just got back literally about half an hour ago...

Some facts:

* Waiting to enter the first checkpoint, there were a couple of incidents which i saw with my own eyes, where the odd scally was literally SNATCHING a ticket out of the hand of a fellow fan waiting to have their ticket checked. Absolute scum. Saw one scally sprinting away from the entrance, being chased by another lad screaming "He's knicked my ticket!"
Somehow he caught him and got his ticket back. Greek police did nothing.

* After the first 2 checkpoints, we were in the olympic complex, but still walking to the ground. Police vans were parked in a row, leaving a small gap for about what must've been 10,000+ fans to try and get it. I feared the worst and you know what i mean by that. There were kids in there and they looked scared. The greek police were on the tannoy saying stuff like "please dont push, please stop, for your own safety", completely neglecting the fact that the people who'd reached this point HAD been checked for tickets and the line of police vans was what caused the problems.

*Riot police EVERYWHERE, with batons and shields. Intimidating to see. With one or two fans, they were ok, but with groups, they didnt want to know, didnt want to help and were just a problem in themselves.

*I wasnt in the main square when the trouble kicked off, but one lad on our flight told me that it started when Milan scored the 1st goal and apparently their fans lit a flare and threw it into the area containing LFC fans (the two sets of fans were apparently kept apart). Reds reacted by throwing back cans and bottles. Then the 2nd goal went in and same happened, another flare lit and thrown into our bit. At that point, the police didnt react and that's what caused the scuffles between fans and police - because the fans couldnt believe the police didnt react to the flares and wanted answers.

*The organisation was completely and utterly disgraceful. Cordons all over the place, separating off people with tickets and people without in areas they didnt need separating, eg not within the complex.

*The stadium itself was beautiful, very modern, brilliant view even from top tier behind the goal.

I have to admit, i was sickened by the ticket snatching, i couldnt believe it. We were stood there trying not to have our tickets visible, but also preparing to get them out when asked and it was dodgy because the police werent interested in protecting genuine fans with genuine tickets.

The first checkpoint operation was done VERY VERY VERY slowly, so you'd be stood there (no queues, just a mound of peple) and there were a few 'checkpoint entrances' at the front of this where they'd check your tickets and send you through at various intervals.



That's all i can think of at the moment, if anyone has specific questions, feel free to ask.

[alunevans]

Do you have a better solution ?? Build a 500,000 seater stadium ?

it wasn't a 500,000 seater stadium in istanbul fredo. so whats your point.

of course i have a better ****ing solution. give the tickets to the fans, instead of giving us 17,000 - ten thousand of which are then spirited away by our own hangers on.

everyone knew there'd be 40,000 reds out there. if we'd got 40,000 tickets then there'd be no problem would there.

why not just give tickets to meet the demand where possible.

the better solution is organise it with the supporters in mind.

its not ****ing hard, lads is it.

[Craig_H]

Why don't you all shut the **** up until you know the facts.

Is the lad with a valid ticket who wasn't allowed in scum?

How many here went to Athens seeking a ticket because UEFA gave us none. How many who were still without one would have gone to the stadium to find one.

Grow the **** up you lot, yiz are doing my head in with your high and mighty bollocks.

Alun mate, the ticket snatchers were scum, pure and simple. But, as always, it's been blown out of proportion, i saw it happen twice and i was stood there waiting to get in for around 30 mins.

Most people were fine and posed no threat, but there was what you'd describe as a 'scally' element who probably went with the intention of buying tickets, but found none for sale, or within their price range.

Trying to then rob their own fellow fans was sickening.

I didnt get to the main square but i saw no tickets for sale around the ground whatsoever. Just some blags going for 50 euros about 15 mins away.

[Pacman]

i just think yers are all way too quick to believe the "official" portrayal.

way too quick!

the lad on sky who didn't get in didn't get in due to "troublemaking".

he was banned from getting in because the stadium was "full".

why was it full? because people were buying black market tickets in athens, and many of those will have been forgeries bought unwittingly that got past the stewards.

the scum are the touts, and UEFA who made this a tout's paradise, and then pin the blame on us when it all goes wrong.

if you want to be shoulder to shoulder with them pricks then thats up to you.

There is more than likely a lot of truth in what your saying their Alun however did you not see some of the Liverpool fans on Newsnorth west yesterday? They asked them if they had tickets and they said 'No' so the reporter asked them what they would be doing for the game and they said 'we are scousers we always get in no matter what'

Also they asked another lot who didn't have tickets what they were going to do and they said nick them.

Now I agree with what you say but there is still an element of fans who went there without tickets and tried to force there way in.

[alunevans]

Right, i just got back literally about half an hour ago...

Some facts:

* Waiting to enter the first checkpoint, there were a couple of incidents which i saw with my own eyes, where the odd scally was literally SNATCHING a ticket out of the hand of a fellow fan waiting to have their ticket checked. Absolute scum. Saw one scally sprinting away from the entrance, being chased by another lad screaming "He's knicked my ticket!"
Somehow he caught him and got his ticket back. Greek police did nothing.

Scum agreed

* After the first 2 checkpoints, we were in the olympic complex, but still walking to the ground. Police vans were parked in a row, leaving a small gap for about what must've been 10,000+ fans to try and get it. I feared the worst and you know what i mean by that. There were kids in there and they looked scared. The greek police were on the tannoy saying stuff like "please dont push, please stop, for your own safety", completely neglecting the fact that the people who'd reached this point HAD been checked for tickets and the line of police vans was what caused the problems.

Interesting.

*Riot police EVERYWHERE, with batons and shields. Intimidating to see. With one or two fans, they were ok, but with groups, they didnt want to know, didnt want to help and were just a problem in themselves.

Interesting.

*I wasnt in the main square when the trouble kicked off, but one lad on our flight told me that it started when Milan scored the 1st goal and apparently their fans lit a flare and threw it into the area containing LFC fans (the two sets of fans were apparently kept apart). Reds reacted by throwing back cans and bottles. Then the 2nd goal went in and same happened, another flare lit and thrown into our bit. At that point, the police didnt react and that's what caused the scuffles between fans and police - because the fans couldnt believe the police didnt react to the flares and wanted answers.

Interesting.

*The organisation was completely and utterly disgraceful. Cordons all over the place, separating off people with tickets and people without in areas they didnt need separating, eg not within the complex.

Interesting

*The stadium itself was beautiful, very modern, brilliant view even from top tier behind the goal.

I have to admit, i was sickened by the ticket snatching, i couldnt believe it. We were stood there trying not to have our tickets visible, but also preparing to get them out when asked and it was dodgy because the police werent interested in protecting genuine fans with genuine tickets.

The first checkpoint operation was done VERY VERY VERY slowly, so you'd be stood there (no queues, just a mound of peple) and there were a few 'checkpoint entrances' at the front of this where they'd check your tickets and send you through at various intervals.



That's all i can think of at the moment, if anyone has specific questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks DJS.

Everyone would condemn ticket snatchers. But on the other stuff thats a much different view than what UEFA and the Greek police are pushing in the media.

[alunevans]

Alun mate, the ticket snatchers were scum, pure and simple. But, as always, it's been blown out of proportion, i saw it happen twice and i was stood there waiting to get in for around 30 mins.

Most people were fine and posed no threat, but there was what you'd describe as a 'scally' element who probably went with the intention of buying tickets, but found none for sale, or within their price range.

Trying to then rob their own fellow fans was sickening.

I didnt get to the main square but i saw no tickets for sale around the ground whatsoever. Just some blags going for 50 euros about 15 mins away.

I agree with you on the ticket snatchers stuff, but ticket snatching isn't what the UEFA prick and the police were focusing on through the media.

[Craig_H]

There is more than likely a lot of truth in what your saying their Alun however did you not see some of the Liverpool fans on Newsnorth west yesterday? They asked them if they had tickets and they said 'No' so the reporter asked them what they would be doing for the game and they said 'we are scousers we always get in no matter what'

Also they asked another lot who didn't have tickets what they were going to do and they said nick them.

Now I agree with what you say but there is still an element of fans who went there without tickets and tried to force there way in.

I saw one lad somehow get over the fence (it didnt look easy to jump) as i got in and within 10 seconds he had about 10 riot police on top of him.

[Eth]

i just think yers are all way too quick to believe the "official" portrayal.

way too quick!

the lad on sky who didn't get in didn't get in due to "troublemaking".

he was banned from getting in because the stadium was "full".

why was it full? because people were buying black market tickets in athens, and many of those will have been forgeries bought unwittingly that got past the stewards.

the scum are the touts, and UEFA who made this a tout's paradise, and then pin the blame on us when it all goes wrong.

if you want to be shoulder to shoulder with them pricks then thats up to you.

I'm not talking about news reports or anything said by UEFA - I haven't even read them - I phoned one of my best mates and his girlfriend after the game to ask what the atmosphere was like and how they were and they told me first hand their experiences. I'm disgusted by what happened to them - I know that they cancelled their summer holidays and spent their savings to go on this dream trip. Uefa **** ups or not - you don't interfere with other people who are lucky enough to legitimately get tickets just because you missed out.