Atletico ban put on hold

Filed in archive Champions League on October 16, 2008

After the great decision with ridiculous timing to ban Atletico Madrid from playing home games at their stadium, Uefa has temporarily overturned the ban for the Champions League match against Liverpool on 22nd October.

European football's governing body had ordered Atletico to play their next two matches away from the Vicente Calderon Stadium after crowd trouble. That was a good, sound decision, but to announce it less than two weeks before such a big game was absolute madness.

Uefa's initial decision led to criticism from thousands of Liverpool fans who had already booked their travel and accommodation for the game.

Uefa says it wants to make the welfare of the English club's supporters its number one priority and has put the ban on hold so that the match goes ahead at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

The ban followed the treatment of Marseille fans during and after Atletico's 2-1 victory on 1 October.

Monkey chants were allegedly aimed at the French club's players. There were accusations from Marseille officials and players that they had been racially abused by Atletico fans.

Atletico has been fined a record 150,000 euros by Uefa.

Coach Javier Aguirre has been punished for abusing a Marseille player and has been banned from the sidelines, the tunnel, and the dressing room, and is forbidden from communicating with his team, during the matches against Liverpool on 22nd October and at Anfield on 4th November.

Atletico deny nearly all of the allegations.