Worst Fans in Europe...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 72&cc=5901

Found this article on ESPN Soccernet and wanted to know whate everyone else though.

Is Liverpool a scapegoat in this situation or are the accusations warranted?

 

Well, Liverpool does have a pretty sordid reputation when it comes to fans. Sounds like the security in Athens could have been better though. How are they letting people in without a ticket? Unfortunately, I've not been to enough EPL matches to know the real story about which teams have awful fans and which don't. I have to rely on word of mouth.

 

On the whole scousers have a reputation for being a bit cheeky and nicking stuff. However, as fans go, I would cite many of the right wing organisations of fans in Italy as being far worse.

In the UK: Leeds; Stoke and Cardiff worse than Liverpool.

 

I saw this earlier today and immediately thought of TOC's opinion (I've been spending way too much time here lately when my first impression is the thoughts of somebody I don't know ).

I think FIFA is incompetent, just look at the Athens fiasco - fake tickets being admitted while denying genuine tickets thereafter even though the ushers knew them to be genuine, also the security issues in Lille and Roma. I think they're piling on Reds supporters unfairly.

Or, the story lends credence to the theory that English hooligans travel en masse to international matches because of weak security as England has policed their stadiums very well in the past decade and essentially shutdown hooliganism inside the stadium.

 

In terms of passion and the ability to create a proper atomsphere in a stadium I would rate Liverpool's supporters second to none. The Kop is phenominal. Now when history continues to repeat itself you have to question the club's fans. I by no means want to delve into Heysel or Hillsborough at this time, because it would take far too long to get through each event.

From what I gathered from those who went to Athens is that some drunken fools rushed into a gap that was open in the stadium entrance and over ran the stewards. It is a shame, because so many fans that bought legitimate tickets were left out of the match. How gutted would you be if you bought a plane ticket, the ticket to the event itself and hotel and couldn't get into the ground?

Each fan has those "shady" fans that can give your club or supporters a bad reputation. Liverpool has some top draw supporters, but I have no doubt that some are also complete knobs.

 

Re: RE: Worst Fans in Europe...

While those complete knobheads that fashion themselves about Europe as legitimate Liverpool supporters crash into the stadium and ruined a great final for so many legitimate fans, I believe UEFA needs to step up and take some responsibility.

Tickets were not properly allocated to Liverpool and they were shorted by about 5,000 tickets. UEFa will never admit when they are wrong and are elitest a$$holes. It is a shame and I maintain that Liverpool has some of the top support on the face of the Earth.

 

RE: Re: RE: Worst Fans in Europe...

D'oh, meant to say UEFA...

 

Re: RE: Worst Fans in Europe...

I agree completely with your statement highlighted above. I have seen and read some terrible things that players and fans have done.

The supporters of the likes of Roma are some of the most terrifying supporters on the face of the Earth I'm told by fellow members on another board. They said Rome was the most terrifying city leading up to the match, because of the shear hatred exuded by the opposing fans.

Now I have not been to Italy so I can't justify these claims, but when those accusations are coupled with media and journalists continual coverage of racism and violence those claims must hold some water.

 

Re: RE: Re: RE: Worst Fans in Europe...

No worries. I knew what you meant.

 

Reds supporters respond: http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6883654

Seems Parry has done very little to support the fans. Shame really.

 

Self promotion...whaaaaaa.

Pure poppy-cock.