Aberdeen to complain about treatment of fans

LONDON  - Aberdeen are to write to European soccer’s governing body expressing concern about the treatment of their fans at Thursday’s UEFA Cup match in Spain against Atletico Madrid.

The Scottish Premier League club said on their Web site (www.afc.co.uk) on Friday that they would be writing to UEFA “as a matter of urgency” in the wake of the Group B match which Atletico won 2-0 at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

Trouble started between rival sets of fans just outside the stadium about half an hour before kick off and police became involved. Witnesses said bottles, flares and other objects were thrown.

Aberdeen said one of their supporters was taken to hospital with a head wound allegedly caused by a police baton but there were no reports of any fans being arrested.

Spanish media reported that two Atletico fans had been detained and 11 people were treated for minor injuries. None required hospital attention.

“We are still in the process of documenting everything that occurred from the time of the draw until the conclusion of game and in particular the way in which some of our fans were treated outside the stadium,” an Aberdeen spokesman said.

He added that the club had repeatedly asked for additional tickets well in advance of the game and been told there were none, although there were plenty of empty seats on the night.

“As a result of our concerns for potential problems, we involved the (British) Consul at an early stage and they have been aware of the relevant issues,” the Web site said.

“Those, along with the reported mistreatment of Aberdeen supporters, will form the basis of a detailed report that we will be submitting to the governing body over the course of the next few days.”