Frustrated Liverpool fans ready to go to law after Athens ticketing debacle

Jun 5 2007 by Jessica Shaughnessy, Liverpool Daily Post

Frustrated Liverpool fans ready to go to law after Athens ticketing debacle

MORE than 20 Liverpool fans who were barred from the Champions League final have joined forces to take group legal action against UEFA.

Simon Gibson, a partner at city legal firm Kirwans and Co, is helping supporters who had genuine tickets but were refused entry into the Olympic Stadium.

A Liverpool fan himself, Mr Gibson, who managed to get to his seat in Athens, decided to take on the case after being approached by one determined fan and has since recruited 20 more.

The first of the disgruntled clients was Liverpool architect Paul Gregory, who last week wrote to Uefa demanding compensation.

With two friends, Mr Gregory, a self-employed architect, paid £3,490 in flights, accommodation and match tickets.

He was turned away from the stadium by police, teargassed and baton-charged before watching the last 20 minutes of the game in a bar.

Mr Gregory, who owned four shares before the Gillett/Hicks takeover, wants the money spent on his Athens nightmare to be refunded.

In his letter, he wrote: “It’s the least you can do for putting our lives at risk. If this is not forthcoming, we intend to take action against UEFA through the British judicial system, and through the European courts if necessary. It was only through good luck that UEFA avoided deaths.”

Now Mr Gibson says that, if Mr Gregory does not receive a response within 14 days, he will write a letter himself and add on the names of all his other clients.

He said: “There is definitely a basis for this action. When UEFA sold those tickets, they entered into a contract with the fans and they have breached that contract.

“There are a number of questions we want answered. Why were there no turnstiles or counting systems? We want to see the report sent by Rick Parry warning the police in Athens about what could happen.

“And, finally, we want compensation for the tickets, flights, accommodation and expenses. UEFA need to be held accountable so they will learn by their mistakes.”

Mr Gibson added: “I am a Liverpool fan myself and I was lucky enough to get into the game, but I saw what happened.

“This case is an interesting one for me, it’s also a matter of principle.”