Atletico stadium ban

[Zapater]

i doubt that Mestalla or Juan Pizjuan is a realistic option because won't Sevilla and/or Valencia potentially have to use their stadium for UEFA Cup games around that time. Likewise with Depor's Riazor.

hmm wonder what will become of this, although the Andalusia options seem plausible. Although if it's an option a game in Mestalla would be ideal, I'd like to see us have another go there before it's knocked down in he near future.

[Cormack74]

Good for us but not for Torres.

True in the sense of missing out on a homecoming, but I think he'll play better for us away from a full house in Madrid.

[Kenneth]

BBC:

Liverpool fans fume at Uefa move
By Sam Lyon

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.

"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."

[Parm]

just a shambles by UEFA,

[Shaggy]

What on earth are UEFA doing? What kind of ridiculous punishment is that? Are racist fans incapable of getting on a train and travelling 200 miles? If they want to punish them make them play it behind closed doors...only let away fans in. They must be the most pathetically inept organisation ever assembled. Imagine if you’ve booked your air fare and hotel accommodation for Madrid. I’m sure UEFA will reimburse those fans

[Craig_H]

Uefa doing what they always do.

[Pablo]

Uefa doing what they always do.

They do love screwing over Liverpool fans

[lfc1394]

What a load of crap. Closed doors like they did to Roma, why move it 200 miles away

[Red Chilli]

What a load of crap. Closed doors like they did to Roma, why move it 200 miles away

It's a well known fact that there are no racists beyond a 200 mile radius of Madrid

[lfc1394]

It's a well known fact that there are no racists beyond a 200 mile radius of Madrid

You mean it's like London, nothing exists outside the M25

[Migselv]

What a load of crap. Closed doors like they did to Roma, why move it 200 miles away

I agree. But I think the clubs prefer it to be played elsewhere in stead of behind closed doors. Otherwise they'd lose a lot more revenue.

The danish national team got the same penalty a few years back, which effectively meant that our next home game had to be played abroad .
Uefa changed it though, after the danish FA appealed, so it could be played in Denmark.

[Kenneth]

What a load of crap. Closed doors like they did to Roma, why move it 200 miles away

I'd hate to see us play an important game with no crowd. We are supposed to have 3 or 4 k going to this game.

[lfc1394]

I'd hate to see us play an important game with no crowd. We are supposed to have 3 or 4 k going to this game.

I know what you mean, and watching the Roma game was one of the weirdest things i've seen, but I don't see how making everyone travel 200 odd miles away is really a punishment, just think if they did that to UTD their fans would only have a 10 min journey

[IJM]

UEFA have not thought this through at all. What's very likely to happen now is that all independently travelling Liverpool fans will now fly to Madrid anyway and try to arrange transport to whereever the game is going to be held.

Well guess who else is going to be trying to arrange travel too? That's right. All the Atletico fans in their tens of thousands. And all these travelling fans are now going to have to be policed.

Those that are unable to arrange transport to the match may well choose to stay in Madrid and watch the game in the bars. Meaning an appreciable number of fans are going to be mixing with local fans in Madrid anyway. But they won't be policed in the same way as they would have been.

We all know most fans are friendly enough and we do have a kind of relationship with our opponents. But it only takes one dickhead to cause trouble.

Not the best example of joined up thinking by UEFA.

[Craig_H]

Spanish Radio reporting that the game will be played at the Camp Nou.