Hicks slams Uefa "clowns"
Hicks has vehemently defended the Liverpool fans
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Tuesday, 05, Jun 2007 11:36
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has branded Uefa spokesman William Gaillard "a clown" for branding the club's fans "the worst in Europe".
Gaillard made the comments last week upon the release of a report from Uefa into the trouble that marred the Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan.
Thousands of English fans with legitimate tickets were turned away from Athens' Olympic Stadium, while several hundred claim to have been admitted without a ticket or without having their ticket checked for its validity.
And Hicks has launched a scathing attack on the governing body of European football for its stance over the whole matter.
"I thought the guy from Uefa was a clown for saying that," Hicks told Sky Sports.
"Uefa did not handle this right at all, they didn't have the right ticketing procedures. To give 17,00 tickets to the two teams, particularly knowing Liverpool is going to bring 40,000 fans is insane.
"It is a classic case of a bureaucrat trying to take pressure off himself."
On the subject of the Liverpool fans who purchased forged passes to enter the stadium, Hicks remained vigilant in his defence of his club.
"Unfortunately there were counterfeit tickets and unfortunately there were Liverpool fans who paid hard-earned money [for them]," he continued.
"A lot of fans went to great sacrifice to get their tickets and they got to the stadium and were told there was no more room.
"Were they mad? Sure they were mad and I don't blame them."
Sports minister Richard Caborn is set to meet with Uefa president Michel Platini later today in order to discuss the issues surrounding the problems with fans and overcrowding in and around the stadium.