Liverpool FC

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Neutral venue for Reds clash

14 Oct 2008 - 10:20:30

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Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on October 22 will be held at a neutral venue following crowd trouble at the Spanish club's ground.

Reds striker Fernando Torres was hoping to make an emotional return to his former club in the Group D game later this month.

Torres left Atletico to join Liverpool in August 2007 but the striker remains a crowd favourite at the Vicente Calderon as he is their all-time record goalscorer.

But after Atletico were hit with a three-game stadium ban by UEFA following "crowd incidents" during the Champions League game against Marseille at the beginning of October, the game will now take place at last 300 kilometres away from Madrid.

"The ban for the third UEFA club competition match is deferred for a probationary period of five years meaning that if Atletico progress to the knockout stages they could be allowed to return to the Vicente Calderon," read a UEFA statement.

"Atletico were charged with a lack of organisation during the (Marseille) match which led to crowd incidents and for the improper conduct of their supporters.

"The Spanish club were also fined 150,000 euros for the offences."