European football governing body UEFA decided yesterday that Atletico
Madrid can after all play next week's Champions League tie against Liverpool in
the Vicente Calderon stadium.
Tuesday had seen UEFA slap a three-game home ban on Atletico following crowd
incidents in the match against Olympique Marseilles two weeks ago.
Atletico vowed to appeal against the decision, which they considered to have
been taken over incidents beyond their control. Liverpool meanwhile also made
their annoyance clear, arguing that most of their supporters had already bought
tickets and made arrangements to travel to Madrid.
UEFA has taken these appeals into account and decided that the game can now
take place in the Calderon next Wednesday, although it does not mean that
Atletico will escape a ban.
"After immediate consideration of the request for suspension, and having
considered in particular the organizational and logistical difficulties related
to relocating the Club Atletico de Madrid vs Liverpool FC match to another venue
at short notice, the chairman of the Appeals Body has decided to grant the
request for suspension of the sanctions," reads the statement on the official
UEFA website.
Unfortunately former Atletico striker Fernando Torres will not be able to
take part in the game. Torres, now with Liverpool, tore a hamstring during
Spain's World Cup qualifying game in Belgium on Wednesday night and will miss
the game through injury.