Kop’s call to protect away fans

LIVERPOOL will write to UEFA and lobby the European Club Association over the treatment of their fans during last month’s visit to Benfica.

More than 3,000 Reds supporters travelled to Portugal on April 5 to watch their club contest the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Liverpool won 3-1, paving the way for a 6-4 aggregate success.

But fans alleged that local police engaged in needlessly antagonistic behaviour outside the Estadio da Luz. A large number of supporters were also denied entry until after kick-off – and then were held back for a long time after the game.

Liverpool have worked with the club’s fan union, Spirit of Shankly, and with Football Supporters

Europe (FSE) to collate accounts of events.

FSE executive director Ronan Evain said: “When fans behave badly the clubs are fined or there’s a closing of the stadium, but when fans are mistreated the same doesn’t happen.

“There is a discrepancy here that we hope to address with UEFA.”