Two Liverpools fans were injured after ONE HUNDRED of them fought in Athens over a ticket....
Liverpool fans hospitalised after mass brawl for Champions League ticket
23rd May 2007
Daily Mail
European Cup Final - Liverpool VS AC Milan, tonight, 7:45pm BST
Up tp 100 Liverpool fans fought each other on the streets of Athens today in a row over a single ticket for tonight's Champions League final.
Two supporters were injured and taken to hospital following clashes in the Greek capital. The fight happened after a Liverpool fan produced an extra ticket, prompting an undignified scrap over who should get it.
An estimated 50,000 Liverpool fans have arrived for the final against AC Milan - but the majority do not appear to have tickets.
Red revelry: Liverpool fans in Syntagma Square, Athens, ahead of the Champions League final tonight. As many as 50,000 have descended on the city
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has pleaded with supporters for calm and "to do the right thing". He said: "All I can do is send a positive message for the fans to remain calm."
The fighting raises fears that outbreaks of hooliganism may spread tonight as frustration, fuelled by alcohol, builds among fans unable to get tickets. Tensions are rising as black market prices have hit £3,500 (US $7000) for a single ticket. AC Milan fans are also arriving for the match.
Athens police said one man was hit on the head and back after a group of fans fought over a single ticket. Another sustained head and chest injuries during the row between an estimated 100 drunken fans.
"Both men are now in hospital and they have told nursing staff what happened,î a police official said.
"Their injuries are not serious."
Authorities announced today the arrest of a 27-year-old English man accused of selling almost £40,000 worth of forged tickets. The tout had sold 50 forged tickets on Monday and yesterday before being arrested in central Syntagma Square. He is now facing charges of forgery and fraud, police said.
Fans' frustration has been compounded by the news that there could be as many as 4,000 empty seats in the stadium. because AC Milan could not sell its full allocation. Supporter Mike Robson, 37, said: "I cannot believe there will be empty seats at the game when there will be thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of Liverpool fans who cannot get a ticket."
Soccer plea: against official advice, some Liverpool fans travelled to Greece without match tickets
There is massive security in Athens, with 8,500 police deployed at the Olympic Stadium, in the city centre and at the airport. Another 6,500 officers are serving in a support role.
The Home Office said a "significant" number of British officers, mainly from Merseyside police, were in the capital to help crack down on hooliganism. Known trouble-makers had handed in their passports, preventing them from travelling, in the weeks ahead of the game.
Tour operator Thomas Cook apologised today to 60 fans stranded at Stansted airport when their flight
was brought forward two hours. The company is investigating whether an email telling passengers of the earlier departure had been sent to all customers.
Supporters arrived at Stansted for the 7am flight to Athens only to discover it had already taken off - only half-full - at 4.50am. A Thomas Cook spokeswoman apologised for any inconvenience and said many passengers had been found alternative flights with the travel company paying for taxis to Heathrow.
Fans already in Athens partied into the early hours today with several hundred drinking, dancing and singing on steps in Syntagma Square and elsewhere as police kept a low profile.
dailymail.co.uk
Liverpool fans hospitalised after mass brawl for Champions League ticket
23rd May 2007
Daily Mail
European Cup Final - Liverpool VS AC Milan, tonight, 7:45pm BST
Up tp 100 Liverpool fans fought each other on the streets of Athens today in a row over a single ticket for tonight's Champions League final.
Two supporters were injured and taken to hospital following clashes in the Greek capital. The fight happened after a Liverpool fan produced an extra ticket, prompting an undignified scrap over who should get it.
An estimated 50,000 Liverpool fans have arrived for the final against AC Milan - but the majority do not appear to have tickets.
Red revelry: Liverpool fans in Syntagma Square, Athens, ahead of the Champions League final tonight. As many as 50,000 have descended on the city
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has pleaded with supporters for calm and "to do the right thing". He said: "All I can do is send a positive message for the fans to remain calm."
The fighting raises fears that outbreaks of hooliganism may spread tonight as frustration, fuelled by alcohol, builds among fans unable to get tickets. Tensions are rising as black market prices have hit £3,500 (US $7000) for a single ticket. AC Milan fans are also arriving for the match.
Athens police said one man was hit on the head and back after a group of fans fought over a single ticket. Another sustained head and chest injuries during the row between an estimated 100 drunken fans.
"Both men are now in hospital and they have told nursing staff what happened,î a police official said.
"Their injuries are not serious."
Authorities announced today the arrest of a 27-year-old English man accused of selling almost £40,000 worth of forged tickets. The tout had sold 50 forged tickets on Monday and yesterday before being arrested in central Syntagma Square. He is now facing charges of forgery and fraud, police said.
Fans' frustration has been compounded by the news that there could be as many as 4,000 empty seats in the stadium. because AC Milan could not sell its full allocation. Supporter Mike Robson, 37, said: "I cannot believe there will be empty seats at the game when there will be thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of Liverpool fans who cannot get a ticket."
Soccer plea: against official advice, some Liverpool fans travelled to Greece without match tickets
There is massive security in Athens, with 8,500 police deployed at the Olympic Stadium, in the city centre and at the airport. Another 6,500 officers are serving in a support role.
The Home Office said a "significant" number of British officers, mainly from Merseyside police, were in the capital to help crack down on hooliganism. Known trouble-makers had handed in their passports, preventing them from travelling, in the weeks ahead of the game.
Tour operator Thomas Cook apologised today to 60 fans stranded at Stansted airport when their flight
was brought forward two hours. The company is investigating whether an email telling passengers of the earlier departure had been sent to all customers.
Supporters arrived at Stansted for the 7am flight to Athens only to discover it had already taken off - only half-full - at 4.50am. A Thomas Cook spokeswoman apologised for any inconvenience and said many passengers had been found alternative flights with the travel company paying for taxis to Heathrow.
Fans already in Athens partied into the early hours today with several hundred drinking, dancing and singing on steps in Syntagma Square and elsewhere as police kept a low profile.
dailymail.co.uk
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