[lfc-news] Fans hit out at ticket sales plan - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 18 April 2005
Fans hit out at ticket sales plan
By Jessica Shaughnessy, Daily Post Staff

OUTRAGED Liverpool fans last night branded the club's loyalty scheme "a
farce" after they endured long waits and blocked phone lines as they
tried to buy tickets for the Champions League semi-final home tie
against Chelsea.

Many supporters condemned the decision to allow tickets to be sold to
fans who had attended just two of the six European Champions League home
games this season.

It meant some fans with a full attendance record and even away trips
across Europe feared missing out on the May 3 second leg at Anfield to
less regular supporters.

But an LFC spokesman last night insisted everyone who had been to at
least two games would be able to get a ticket and that opening up the
sales was the only way to get them to the fans in the short time before
the match.

Thousands queued up outside Anfield in the rain yesterday for up to five
hours after club officials opened up ticket sales to all those who met
the two game criteria.

Ian Latton, from St Helens, tried desperately to get through on the
phone lines all day.

"Many people have to work so the phone lines are the only option. This
just makes a farce of the club's fan card system.

"It's meant to reward loyalty, yet everyone who has just two games on it
has the same chance of a ticket for one of the most important games in
the club's recent history.

"I've seen better loyalty cards in supermarket forecourts."

Other fans complained that just six of Anfield's ticket booths were open
to deal with the hundreds of fans queuing outside.

Andrew Bailey, 32, of Northwich, Cheshire, who travelled to Liverpool to
buy tickets with his brother Chris, 26, of North Wales, said: "We really
ran out of patience.

"We have been to five Champions League matches. Even so, we had to queue
for five hours in the freezing cold and the rain.

"I can't understand why they didn't straddle the ticket selling process
as they have done in the past. Open it up to people who have gone to all
the matches on the first day and lower the qualification as each day
goes on."

Les Lawson, secretary of the Merseyside branch of the Official Liverpool
Supporters' Club, said: "Before making this decision, the club made sure
there was enough tickets for everybody who has been to at least two
Champions League matches.

"I wasn't there yesterday, but perhaps it would have been better if
those who had been to more matches got priority."

Last night, a Liverpool FC club spokesman said: "We would like to thank
the fans for their co-operation.

"Because the game is only two weeks away, we have a limited time to sell
them.

"We are confident that there are enough tickets for everybody who has
been to two or more Champions League games."

Tickets will be on sale again from 8.15am today.

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