[lfc-news] Stay-away fans in fear over attacks in Juventus return - Post

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Liverpool daily Post, 7 April 2005
Stay-away fans in fear over attacks in Juventus return
By Alan Weston Daily Post Staff

LIVERPOOL FC is struggling to sell its ticket allocation for next week's
Champions League quarter-final in Turin amid fans' fears over their safety.

Only 2,253 tickets had been sold yesterday out of the club's allocation
of 3,600 for the second leg.

While affordability is an issue for many fans, others are concerned
about potential reprisals from Juventus supporters.

A rogue element has vowed to take revenge for the 1985 Heysel stadium
disaster, when rioting led to a wall collapsing and the deaths of 39 people.

Liverpool fans are being warned by police not to travel to Turin unless
they have bought tickets from the club.

Although Tuesday night's game at Anfield went ahead in a generally
positive atmosphere, a significant number of Juventus fans turned their
backs when reconciliation efforts were made.

Sam Johnstone, a long-time Liverpool season ticket-holder, said: "Quite
a number that usually go to European games are thinking twice about
going over to the Juventus game next week.

"Part of it is down to experiences they had when they went over to Rome
a few years ago, when there was a really nasty atmosphere, and that the
Italian police still see Liverpool fans as hooligans.

"I don't altogether blame some Juventus fans for turning their backs at
this week's game. We still fight for justice for Hillsborough, and a lot
of Juventus supporters feel the same way about Heysel.

"I would urge anyone going over there to go on organised trips through
the clubs where they'll be looked after.

"The vast majority of Juventus supporters are willing to move on, but
there are some who won't be."

Former Liverpool midfielder Ronnie Whelan, who played in the 1985
European Cup final, said he expected a night of tension next Wednesday.

"I'd be more concerned about the away leg," he said.

"Relatives of the dead people are still there, they still remember and
they feel a lot more bitter than they do in Liverpool."

However, for others, affordability was the reason behind their decision
not to travel to Italy.

Les Lawson, secretary of the Merseyside branch of the Official Liverpool
Supporters' Club, said: "There hasn't been a great period of time in
between European games to go abroad again and nobody has got unlimited
funds. You have to pick and choose what games to go to."

Chief Supt Dave Lewis, who will lead a five-strong liaison team from
Merseyside Police travelling to Turin, said: "I went to Turin last week
and spoke with the deputy head of police there and he was not not aware
of any organised group who intended to attack Liverpool supporters.

"But I would encourage all the travelling Liverpool fans to use the
shuttle buses which will carry them directly from the town centre into
the ground.

"Those travelling alone, perhaps looking a bit lost, are more at risk of
attack. They are always more vulnerable.

"I'm confident that, if people take the advice given to them, it will be
a totally-trouble free experience."

The British consulate in Turin said it was not expecting any violence
and was not preparing to step up security. Spokeswoman Joanne Yeadon in
Milan said: "There is always speculation about violence, but usual
security measures will be in place."

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