UEFA points finger at Liverpool fans

Police arrested 128 fans, mostly from Liverpool, because they either had forged tickets or none at all.

But hundreds more with genuine tickets were stopped from entering the Olympic stadium for the 2-1 loss to AC Milan and violence broke out when they tried to enter the ground.

“I’ve been tear gassed and hit on the back of the head by the police,” said 19-year-old Kenny Roberts, who said he had a genuine ticket but was not allowed in. “I’ve paid good money for that ticket, I’m a (Liverpool) season ticket holder, and this is just disgraceful. It’s terrible organisation.”

Police said today that the officers on duty “followed the lines of their responsibility” while UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said the problems were caused by Liverpool fans trying to get into the stadium without a legitimate ticket.

Gaillard also rejected complaints by fans that the stadium used for the 2004 Olympics was not suitable for a major Cup final.

“It was a suitable venue. It is the stadium where the 2004 Olympics were held and where all the games of the national team are held,” Gaillard told BBC Radio Five.

“Unfortunately in Britain it is the behavior. Liverpool fans are responsible for the problems before, during and after the game.

“Trying to go over the barriers to get into the stadium without tickets … is not the behavior we can condone. It is very easy to say ‘this is not a football stadium.’ Milan supporters didn’t face the same problems because they didn’t behave the same way,” Gallard said.

Gaillard backed the action of the police and said that the fans’ behavior could have led to serious injuries.

Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Athens said that the ambassador would be raising concerns about the treatment of the Liverpool fans.

The Cup and after

• It’s a feeling of great joy. There aren’t words to describe it…I feel like it’s all a dream

Filippo Inzaghi

• It was something that we rehearsed in training. Sometimes it just comes off

On his first goal

•I don’t want to use this as an excuse… but I counted two minutes 45 seconds and 51 hundredths (of stoppage time). I had confidence (of drawing) but I was surprised with the stoppage time. We did not have time

Rafael Benitez

• Risk more? Against such a team when you make one mistake they can kill you and you have to be very careful

Benitez on why he didn’t risk more

• I wouldn’t call this revenge for the scandal but I do think that Italian football suffered from it, especially Milan, so I would say this is good for Italian football in general. It will help us to regain some of our credibility

Carlo Ancelotti

• Defeat two years ago will stay for a lifetime. But this is a different story. It’s our turn to celebrate now

Gennaro Gattuso

• You’ve got to take it on the chin, move on and try to pick yourself up but at the moment it’s heartbreaking. We gave everything but it wasn’t to be tonight

Steven Gerrard