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'Wanted -- extra trophy space' Liverpool fans make joyful return to Europe
DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -- Liverpool fans put in as admirable a performance as their team on Wednesday, producing a carnival atmosphere as their side took the UEFA Cup in their first European final since the Heysel tragedy of 1985. Dortmund's Westfalenstadion rang with the strains of Liverpool anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" as the team lifted the UEFA Cup after a sensational 5-4 Golden Goal victory over Spain's Alaves. "It's been brilliant. Everyone is singing and waving. Unbelievable," said 14-year-old Joseph Johnson from Liverpool. The stadium, home to Germany's Borussia Dortmund, was strung with red and white Liverpool banners, but one summed up the night as the Merseysiders won their third cup this year: "Wanted -- extra trophy space." The blue and white clad fans from the tiny Basque outsiders, who despite their far-smaller numbers, often outsung the Liverpool supporters throughout the goal-filled match, were not too glum, roaring as their side paraded in their runners-up medals after their first European final. The Alaves supporters, who had set off a few pink flares when their side scored in the first half, also warmly applauded as the Liverpool players ran a lap of victory. A few fans ran onto the pitch after the game but were all quickly apprehended by security personnel. The peaceful atmosphere was in stark contrast to the pitched battles between Galatasaray and Arsenal fans in Copenhagen ahead of last year's UEFA Cup final, won by the Turkish side. The match was Liverpool's first European final since they were banned from European competition after 39 Juventus fans were killed when a wall collapsed in Belgium's Heysel stadium after rioting by Liverpool fans before the 1985 European Cup final. Police happyThe German police, who see the game as an early test of their tactics ahead of the World Cup here in 2006, said they believed encouraging the two sets of fans to mix freely ahead of the game had helped promote a good atmosphere. "The idea of getting fans to celebrate together has worked well. Everything has been peaceful apart from a few minor alcohol-related events," said police spokesman Wilhelm Huesch, adding he was not too concerned about trouble later in the evening. "If the World Cup turns out like it's been today, it will be a really great festival," Huesch said. "I was in among the English fans and the atmosphere was great." Some of the 2,000 police on duty joined the party atmosphere, several wearing Liverpool or Alaves scarves and one even had his face painted in Liverpool red. "For 30 years until Heysel, we went without trouble. The reputation of Liverpool fans is that they are really friendly and hopefully we're back on track," said Charles Sciberras, head of the Liverpool fan club in Malta. Police reported only one disturbance overnight in a hotel in the town of Witten outside Dortmund where a small group of drunken English fans briefly got out of control. After a day of gorging on German beer and sausages in Dortmund, police said a few fans had also had to be admitted to hospital feeling the effects of too much alcohol. Police had expected some 20,000 Liverpool fans and up to 10,000 Alaves supporters. The rest of the stadium's 51,000 seats were supposed to be filled by German locals, but many of the supposedly neutral seat were occupied by fans in Liverpool red. UEFA officials earlier rejected concerns that Liverpool fans would be able to buy spare tickets for the Alaves section of the Westfalenstadion, saying security was more important to organizers than a gap in the stands. However, several hundred tickets that had been booked but not paid for in non-segregated areas of the ground did go on sale in Dortmund and UEFA spokesman Mike Lee admitted there was the possibility of Liverpool fans without tickets getting into the ground by buying them on the black market. Several ticket touts were mobbed by fans outside the stadium ahead of the game as police tried to break up the trade. But the atmosphere remained jovial for most of the day. One male Liverpool fan, wearing a red bikini plus white stockings and suspenders, jumped into a fountain in the middle of Dortmund and was rewarded with a huge roar from fans. Another entered the stadium clad just in red women's underwear.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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