Liverpool criticized European soccer's governig body on Monday for branding the Reds' fans as the worst behaved in Europe.
UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said Liverpool supporters had been guilty of misbehavior 25 times in the past four years -- more than any other club in its competitions -- and some had tried to get into last month's Champions League final in Athens with tickets which had been forged or stolen from fellow fans.
"That was just the latest example," Gaillard was quoted as saying in British newspapers. "What other set of fans steal tickets from their fellow supporters or out of the hands of children?"
UEFA was to hand a critical report on the Liverpool fans' behavior at the May 23 final against AC Milan to Britain's Sports Minister Richard Caborn yesterday.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said UEFA and local organizers of the Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium were to blame for ticketing problems that led to violence before the game when fans with genuine tickets were prevented from entering the stadium.
"The shortcomings in the management of the situation in Athens were apparent to anyone who was there," he told the club's Web site.
Parry also said UEFA's latest comments were in conflict with the praise that the European body heaped upon Liverpool supporters.
"These latest comments from UEFA should not deflect attention from that reality," Parry said. "What is most surprising about the latest comments from Mr Gaillard is that, on the eve of the final, he quite rightly commented that Liverpool supporters `have a tradition of good behavior.'
"Let's not forget that these same supporters who Mr Gaillard is claiming are now the worst in Europe were praised by UEFA president Michel Platini after our semi-final victory against Chelsea only last month, commended for their behavior in Istanbul in 2005 and actually honored by UEFA at a gala dinner in Monte Carlo in 2001 as joint Supporters of the Years with Alaves after the UEFA Cup final."
The violence and ticketing problems occurred before kickoff at the Champions League final when security staff stopped Liverpool fans getting in with forged or stolen tickets, causing a long delay.
Fans with genuine tickets, having been held back, tried to rush the gates to get into the stadium. Greek police used pepper spray and some fans said they were hit with batons.
"The incidents involving Liverpool fans have been well known to us before the trouble at the Champions League final," Gaillard said.
"We know what happened in Athens, and Liverpool fans were the cause of most of the trouble there. There have been 25 incidents involving Liverpool fans away from home since 2003 and these are in the report. Most teams' supporters do not cause any trouble at all," he said.
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