LFC chief Parry condemns UEFA

May 11 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL FC last night attempted to deflect furious fans’ criticism of its Champions League ticketing arrangements by launching an unprecedented attack on UEFA.

The club described the offer from European football’s governing body of 17,000 tickets to LFC fans for Athens as “completely inadequate”.

Chief executive Rick Parry addressed supporters and called on UEFA to look again at how it hands out tickets for future finals, as the row between the club and the governing body escalated. Fans’ disappointment at the ticket distribution for the final against AC Milan on May 23 went on, as supporters debated ways of protesting at their treatment.

Mr Parry attempted to placate the thousands of fans who felt the computerised ballot that allocated tickets on Wednesday was unfair as luckier fans picked up their tickets at Anfield on the first day of sale.

He said: “The club shares the fans' frustration at this situation.

“From the first moment we sat down with UEFA last Friday in Athens we asked if more tickets could be made available. The answer was no.

“We then asked if Milan were to return any tickets, could we have these to distribute to our fans. Again, the answer was a resounding no.

“I can only apologise that we are unable to supply more tickets to our fans.”

Of comments from UEFA that Liverpool fans “have done well” to secure 17,000 tickets, Mr Parry said he was “astonished”.

“I don't think it is helpful in the circumstances,” he said.

“The bottom line is that we have not been given enough tickets and it should be obvious to everyone.

“UEFA must look at the way they allocate tickets for future finals, because the current way of working means that thousands of genuine supporters are not being given the opportunity to attend what is the biggest game in club football.”

The Daily Post contacted UEFA several times last night for a response to Mr Parry’s attack, without success.

The Liverpool chief executive, who has been a personal target for much of the anger from fans, also used the club website to deny tickets had been made available to Triangle Travel, the agency tied in with LFC, and to refute allegations that club ticket office staff had “sorted out” someone they knew with eight tickets.

Mr Parry said: “I've had this checked out rigorously. The supporter in question has not even qualified for a single ticket so it is rubbish for him to go on the forum and claim he has secured eight.”

Liverpool supporters have been up in arms at the ticket allocation for the Athens final, with many left without tickets despite already booking travel and accommodation.

Some fans have voiced suspicion as to how many of the 16,779 tickets available to LFC went into the computerised ballot that distributed the tickets, after sizeable groups of fans complained they had come away without a ticket between them.

LFC has said it will not “get drawn into the numbers game”.