Confusion still reigns over ticket fiasco

May 22 2007 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

ANGRY Liverpool fans converged on Anfield yesterday to demand answers in another twist of the Athens ticket fiasco.

Long queues snaked alongside the stadium with some lucky supporters leaving ecstatic after picking up last-minute tickets.

But confusion still reigned outside the Kop as many remained uncertain over who was entitled to tickets.

It appeared fans arriving at Anfield yesterday were those who had been successful in the club’s second ballot, held last week.

The club said those picked out by the computer in that ballot, a result of unwanted tickets from those who had attended seven European fixtures, would receive a phone call from the ticket office.

But it is unclear if every successful fan from the second ballot was telephoned, and consequently hundreds converged on the stadium to try their luck.

Some frustrated fans claimed many were pretending they had been called and leaving, stunned, with Athens tickets.

Other rumours circulated that fans were being sent away by staff, only to join the queue again, and get a ticket second time round.

The gates to the office were closed at 12pm yesterday and the message board read: “Liverpool v Milan. All tickets sold.”

Furious fans shouted at club officials through the railings and even remonstrated with community relations official and former player Brian Hall.

Mark Johnson, 25, from Anfield, said: “The communication between the club and the fans should have been a lot better, and people arriving at the stadium haven’t known if they are entitled to a ticket or not.”

A Liverpool FC statement read: “We would like to advise supporters that, following the second ballot, all tickets for the Champions League final have now sold out.

“No further tickets will be available from Liverpool Football Club.

“Only fans who have received a telephone call from the ticket office informing them they have a ticket should queue at the ticket office.

“No tickets will be sold to anyone else.”