sport

UEFA ADMIT LIVERPOOL DISRUPTION

Torres - no Atletico homecoming.

UEFA have admitted Liverpool fans face major disruption next week after their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid was switched to a neutral venue.

The ruling will also deny Fernando Torres the chance to return to his former home ground.

Atletico have been hit with a three-game stadium ban by UEFA following "crowd incidents" during the Champions League game against Marseille on October 1.

Atletico must now play their next two home games - against Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven - at a venue at least 300 kilometres (180 miles) from Madrid.

The final game of the ban is suspended for five years, so Atletico can return to the Vicente Calderon if they reach the knockout stages.

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre has also been banned for his club's home and away fixtures against Liverpool for insulting Marseille player Mathieu Valbuena.

The Spanish club were fined 150,000 Euros.

Torres told Marca on Tuesday: "After so much time waiting, it is the worst and most unexpected news that I could have heard this morning."

"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."

UEFA communications director William Gaillard said: "We are in touch with Liverpool because we are concerned about the fans.

"We know they face hardship and disruption and we sympathise with that, but we needed to punish Atletico Madrid. We have no alternative.

"What would people have said if Liverpool went there and the players and fans suffered the same treatment?

"We know how sensitive the British public are about racism and violence - and rightly so.

"This is to protect Liverpool fans too - the police were harsh and violent against peaceful fans during the Marseille game and do we want the same story as that, or as happened to the Tottenham fans in Seville last year?"

Gaillard said they were already talking to the club about moving charter flights and UEFA would help in any way they could.

"We are looking at the logistics and seeing what help we can provide," he added.

Atletico were found guilty of a lack of organisation that led to a number of serious problems. Visiting fans were "victimised" by police, according to UEFA, and no police escort was provided for the team coach to and from the stadium - it was attacked by 'ultras' from the Spanish club.

Furthermore, black journalists in the press area were racially insulted by Atletico fans - and no provision was made for disabled supporters who had bought tickets.

Monkey chants were then aimed at Marseille's black players, and Atletico coach Aguirre repeatedly swore at Valbuena - calling him 'a son of a whore' and other insults, and then held on to the ball to waste time at a throw-in.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said UEFA should have taken the 3,000 Reds fans who have tickets for the game into account.

He told the club's website: "To say the decision is a bit late in the day, is to put it mildly.

"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 300 kilometres 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."

The Spanish side released a statement on their official website shortly after the punishment was imposed by UEFA.

It said Atletico's lawyers were looking into the matter and UEFA had informed the club they have until 12pm on Friday to appeal.

And Atletico Madrid forward Luis Garcia has branded as "excessive".

"There will be complications after a punishment like this, I'm sure," he told official club website www.clubatleticodemadrid.com.

"The club and the fans will have a lot of trouble seeing the game against Liverpool if the punishment is confirmed.

"We have to accept it, but I think it's something that should be looked at carefully."

The 30-year-old playmaker added that he did not believe the Marseille fans were totally blameless for the events that unfolded during the Champions League clash.

"Those of us who were on the pitch were worried because we knew something could happen, even that the game might not be played, but Atletico Madrid and their fans didn't do anything," he said.

"It was the away fans. For all these reasons it seems like an excessive punishment to me."

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre has also been banned for his club's home and away fixtures against Liverpool for insulting Marseille players, and Luis Garcia insists the wide-ranging punishment is difficult to stomach.

"This club hasn't been in a great competition like the Champions League for a while and think it's a letdown for everyone and especially our fans," he said.