Fa Barclaycard Premiership News( 15 October 2008 )
English Premiership Football News
Government backs Atletico appeal
Atletico Madrid have received the full support of the Spanish Government in their appeal against their stadium ban.
UEFA ban, which affects the Atletico game in the Champions League with Liverpool, October 22, following the crowd problems in their game with Marseille on October 1.
The Spanish interior minister, Alfedo Perez Rubalcaba said: "I will defend the actions of the police.
"We will hand all the equipment we have available to Atletico so they can appeal against this decision unusual."
Earlier this week, Atletico said they must play their next two home matches outside the Vicente Calderon stadium from the treatment of Marseille fans during and after Atletico 2-1 win.
Monkey chants were directed at the French club's players, while the team bus in Marseille was attacked after the match.
There were also outbreaks of violence between supporters of Marseille and the Spanish police, and charges of Marseille officials and players that they had been victims of racist violence by Atletico fans.
The ban means Liverpool will be held Thursday at a neutral venue, yet to be chosen, at least 200 km from Madrid.
Atletico also has to play PSV Eindhoven outside their home ground on November 26, although they plan to appeal the sentence.
They have until 1100 Paris on Friday, October 17, to do so, the club after a decision in a statement described as "totally unfair and disproportionate".
They denied all allegations of racism, insisting that UEFA officials confused chants of "Kun, Kun, Kun" - in support of the striker Sergio Aguero club - with cries of monkeys.
And the head of Madrid Olympic bid expressed concern that another racist incident in the Spanish sport could have an impact on the city likely to host the Games of 2016.
Liverpool have already written to UEFA to express their concerns over the switch and chief executive Rick Parry told the club website: "To say the decision is a little late in the day, is to say the least.
"We are very worried about our supporters, the vast majority of them have already made travel arrangements. If the match is played at least 300 kilometers from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and additional costs for our great fans.
"Uefa have to take their needs into account when making a final decision on The Game."
But Atletico president Enrique Cerezo Liverpool believes that the game will take place at the club's own ground.
"I urge the fans to be calm because The Game will be played at the Vicente Calderon," said Cerezo.
"Any other decision would be to create a social, logistical and security problems.
"There is no other stadium and we are confident that this game will be played here because Atletico has done nothing wrong."
If the decision to move from Madrid to The Game is confirmed, it denied former Atletico striker Fernando Torres the opportunity to return to his former home ground, the Reds look to maintain their 100% start to their European campaign.
And the Spaniard was devastated by the news, saying: "After so much time waiting, it is the worst and most unexpected news that I could have heard this morning."
Keeper Jose Reina, whose father Miguel Reina Sants played for Atletico in the 1970s, added: "It's a huge blow to us, the Spanish players at Liverpool. Similarly, we all commitments, notes agree, every change plans. "
Atletico were also fined a record 150,000 euros European UEFA administration, while the penalty could be extended to a third home game should there be problems at the club within five years.
The Spanish club coach Javier Aguirre has been punished for abuse of Marseille player.
He was banned from the sidelines, the tunnel and dressing rooms, and it is forbidden to communicate with his team during the matches against Liverpool on October 22 and Anfield, Nov. 4.
Atletico feel the punishment is unfair and, in a statement, said: "Regarding the charge of racist insults, the club wishes to clarify that at no time insults were racist or xenophobic nature aimed n ' any player from Marseille, supported by the video of the meeting and in the summary given by UEFA delegate itself.
"We must remember that Atletico Madrid has no criminal record with UEFA for equal or similar acts to those of September to the ban.
"With reference to the action assigned to our head coach, Javier Aguirre, for which he was suspended for hurling insults at players from the opposing team, the circumstances have not occurred at any time, as is clearly in the report of the delegates appointed for the match and the fourth referee, who, at any time, such circumstances mentioned in its report. "
A spokesman for UEFA said the ruling was proof of the organization "with a new force" against racism.
And the move has been welcomed by anti-racism activists, with former Chelsea defend Paul Elliott, Ambassador of the European campaign Fare, saying: "This is a momentous decision.
"I urge the fans to be calm because The Game will be played at the Vicente Calderon," said Cerezo.
"Any other decision would be to create a social, logistical and security problems.
"There is no other stadium and we are confident that this game will be played here because Atletico has done nothing wrong."
If the decision to move from Madrid to The Game is confirmed, it denied former Atletico striker Fernando Torres the opportunity to return to his former home ground, the Reds look to maintain their 100% start to their European campaign.
And the Spaniard was devastated by the news, saying: "After so much time waiting, it is the worst and most unexpected news that I could have heard this morning."
Keeper Jose Reina, whose father Miguel Reina Sants played for Atletico in the 1970s, added: "It's a huge blow to us, the Spanish players at Liverpool. Similarly, we all commitments, notes agree, every change plans. "
Atletico were also fined a record 150,000 euros European UEFA administration, while the penalty could be extended to a third home game should there be problems at the club within five years.
The Spanish club coach Javier Aguirre has been punished for abuse of Marseille player.
He was banned from the sidelines, the tunnel and dressing rooms, and it is forbidden to communicate with his team during the matches against Liverpool on October 22 and Anfield, Nov. 4.
Atletico feel the punishment is unfair and, in a statement, said: "Regarding the charge of racist insults, the club wishes to clarify that at no time insults were racist or xenophobic nature aimed n ' any player from Marseille, supported by the video of the meeting and in the summary given by UEFA delegate itself.
"We must remember that Atletico Madrid has no criminal record with UEFA for equal or similar acts to those of September to the ban.
"With reference to the action assigned to our head coach, Javier Aguirre, for which he was suspended for hurling insults at players from the opposing team, the circumstances have not occurred at any time, as is clearly in the report of the delegates appointed for the match and the fourth referee, who, at any time, such circumstances mentioned in its report. "
A spokesman for UEFA said the ruling was proof of the organization "with a new force" against racism.
And the move has been welcomed by anti-racism activists, with former Chelsea defend Paul Elliott, Ambassador of the European campaign Fare, saying: "This is a momentous decision.
"I and other players in The Game - black and white - fully support the actions that UEFA have made and urges all bodies to work with us to ensure that racism is effectively eradicated."
Lord Ouseley, chairman of Kick It Out, added: "The leadership that UEFA has shown through these penalties sends a message that is loud and clear - racism will not be tolerated."
News of the suspension comes a day after the Football Association refused to sanction a plan to stage an England friendly against Spain in Madrid because of the racist abuse suffered by the likes of Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright - Phillips for the last time they played there.
The penalty seems to be much more severe imposed to Croatia a month ago.
The FA has been fined £ 15,000 by the Governing Council Fifa world after their supporters monkey chants aimed at Emile Heskey during the qualification England 4-1 World Cup victory.
However, Gaillard denied "double standards", saying: "It was very well with FIFA, UEFA not a fine.
"We have no direct influence on the decisions of Fifa at all. But if we had been in charge, the penalty would have been much higher."
by bbcnews.
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