Liverpool's match moved away from Madrid

Liverpool will play next week's away Champions League match against Atletico Madrid at a neutral venue, after the Spanish club were hit with a stadium ban by Uefa.

Atletico have been fined €150,000 for racist abuse of Marseille players earlier this month and handed a three-match stadium ban after crowd trouble and lack of organisation at the same match.

It is Uefa's toughest-ever action for racist behaviour, and Atletico coach Javier Aguirre has also been banned for his club's home and away fixtures against Liverpool for insulting Marseille player Mathieu Valbuena.

Uefa confirmed the sanctions today and said the next two Champions League home games cannot be played within 300 kilometres of Madrid. The third match ban will be invoked only if there is a repeat of crowd trouble or racist chanting within the next five years.

Atletico were found guilty of a lack of organisation that led to a number of serious problems. Visiting fans were "victimised" by police, according to Uefa, and no police escort was provided for the team coach to and from the stadium — it was attacked by 'ultras' from the Spanish club.

Furthermore, black journalists in the press area were racially insulted by Atletico fans — and no provision was made for disabled supporters who had bought tickets.

Monkey chants were then aimed at Marseille's black players, and Atletico coach Aguirre repeatedly swore at Valbuena — calling him 'a son of a whore' and other insults, and then held on to the ball to waste time at a throw-in.

Liverpool have complained at the "disruption" caused to their fans by the decision.

"To say the decision is a bit late in the day, is to put it mildly," said chief executive Rick Parry. "We have 3,000 fans going to the game and we are extremely concerned for our supporters, the vast majority of whom have already made travel arrangements.

"If the match is played at least 300 kilometres from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and large additional expense for our fans.

"Uefa have to take their needs into account when making a final decision on the game."