Garcia slams UEFA stadium ban

Former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia has branded as “excessive” UEFA’s decision issue Atletico Madrid with a three-match stadium ban following crowd trouble during a game against Marseille earlier this month.

The Primera Liga outfit were hit with the punishment – the sternest issued by UEFA in their fight against racism – today and the club later confirmed their lawyers were looking into the matter after being informed by UEFA they have until 12pm on Friday to appeal.

Atletico were fined around £120,000 and handed the stadium ban after violence and racist abuse marred the Champions League clash with OM at the Vicente Calderon on October 1.

UEFA said the next two Champions League home games could not be played within 200 miles of Madrid meaning Liverpool’s clash there next Wednesday will now have to be moved leaving the plans of thousands of Reds fans in tatters.

The third match ban will only be invoked if there is a repeat of crowd trouble or racist chanting within the next five years.

Garcia, who plied his trade for the Reds between 2004 and 2007, believes both clubs are being unfairly made to suffer.

“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 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 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.

Liverpool have expressed strong concerns over the timing of the decision by UEFA, with chief executive Rick Parry pointing out that many of the 3,000 Liverpool fans expected to travel to the Spanish capital have already paid for their trips.

Garcia continued: “You have to keep in mind that they [Atletico fans] have their tickets, the Liverpool fans have even arranged their trips to Madrid.”

UEFA’s decision to come down hard on Atletico follows yesterday’s announcement that England will refuse to play in Madrid when they take on Spain in a friendly in February – because of past racist incidents.

But Garcia insists the problem of racism in Spain is being overstated.

He added: “I was in England for three years and the truth is I don’t think the fans of Spanish clubs are so bad or troublesome.

“I think there is a lot of misleading information about this and we should do our bit to deny it.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has spoken of his disappointment after hearing his much-anticipated return to the Vicente Calderon could be scuppered.

Torres came up through the ranks at Atletico and quickly become a fan favourite before moving to Anfield in a big-money move a year ago.

“After so much time waiting, it is the worst and most unexpected news that I could have heard this morning,” the 24-year-old told Marca.

“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.”