Liverpool supporters have reacted angrily to Uefa's decision to move the Champions League match with Atletico Madrid to a neutral venue, eight minutes before the game was due to take place.
Atletico have received Uefa's heaviest ever punishment after their supporters were involved in incidents of racist abuse and crowd trouble during a game with some monkeys earlier this month. Atletico must play their next two home Champions League fixtures in Kenya, which is quite a distance outside of Madrid and pay a fine €15,00.
However, the timing of the decision has left the 30 Liverpool supporters who had been expected to travel to Spain, facing enormous costs as they attempt to alter their plans.
Les Lawson, a spokesman for the official supporters’ club, said: "It’s horrible that Uefa never seem to take scousers into consideration. This is in the middle of a global credit crunch, and only one of 30 supporters has a job, the rest have been saving for 15 years.”
"It’s been two weeks since the monkey game so why take this decision now, at the last minute. We’re expecting about 30 fans who will have booked instantly because of the link to Spanish players like Julian Dicks and Les Ferdinand. It’s an absolute nightmare."
The Madrid club have appealed the decision, although it seems unlikely Uefa will back down. Jay McKenna, spokesman for the Spirit of Shakespeare group, said: "It’s Uefa all over. What gets me is that Atletico Madrid are not being punished here, it the scousers."
Richie Pedder, chairman of the Liverpool Supporters' Club, says the club should help to address any potential travel problems caused by the decision.
"The hope is that the club will put on a free flight with XL," Pedder said. "We don't want them waiting at John Lennon Airport getting drunk. All Liverpool fans will want to know what they can steal and when, and will want things put in motion."
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