Report from BBC Sport
Liverpool’s Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid must play their next two home matches away from the Calderon Stadium as a result of racist abuse.
The Uefa ban follows the treatment of Marseille fans during and after Atletico’s 2-1 win a fortnight ago.
Monkey chants were aimed at the French club’s players, while the Marseille team bus was attacked after the match.
The Liverpool game, on 4 November, will be held at a neutral venue 200 miles from Madrid which has yet to be chosen.
The Spanish club have also been fined a record 150,000 euros by European governing body Uefa, while the punishment could be extended to a third home match should there be further trouble at the club within five years.
The decision to move the Liverpool game from Madrid will deny former Atletico striker Fernando Torres the chance to return to his former home ground when the Reds look to maintain their 100% start to their European campaign next month.
Thoughts? – WIll this help or hinder LFC in the away match?
Liverpool fans’ plans for next week’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid are in “tatters” after Uefa switched the game to a neutral venue.
Uefa has imposed a two-match home ban on Atletico after trouble at their last Champions League game versus Marseille.
It means the Reds’ match next Wednesday must be played 200 miles from Madrid.
“It is an utterly ridiculous decision so late in the day,” chairman of the Liverpool Supporters’ Club Richie Pedder told BBC Sport.
“We probably have three to four thousand fans going out to Madrid for the match. The flights will have been booked, the hotels will have been arranged, and now it’s in tatters. What are they supposed to do now?
“I guess we’re left with two options – change the destination of where the fans are flying in to, or to arrange coaches or some other form of transport from Madrid to wherever the new venue will be.
“But who does that? Uefa? The club? The fans themselves through the travel agents? It’s a mess.”
The timing of the decision to switch the match, just eight days before the game, could be worsened by the fact Atletico have the right to appeal until 17 October, meaning a final decision may not be made until the weekend.
Terrible call if you ask me. My main concern is for the fans who have already made arrangements to go to Madrid. Secondly I feel sorry for Torres who would have been looking forward to his trip back home.
I am hoping that UEFA decide to start their ban after our trip there. In terms of on the field, it would be in our advantage to play them away from their home ground but we don’t like it easy and don’t mind playing them at their home.
i understand that many fans, 3000, will be screwed for this match, but seriosuly, this is the best thing that could have happened!!! we just took homefield advantage awaay from out toughest group member