TALE OF TWO CITIES AS LIVERPOOL F.C. FANS ARE SET FOR A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FLORENCE AND FIORENTINA

By Greg O Keeffe on Sep 29, 09 11:44 AM

WE HAD some great European away days last year, but I think it's fair to say Everton's visit to the historic city of Florence wasn't one of them.

We turned up, it rained, we got beat and hardly anybody would serve us ale.

Then there were the local police who had obviously been briefed to expect the scouse equivalent of the Taliban based on their 'welcome'.

General contemptous and unhelpful treatment aside, I also recall feeling alarmingly crushed as we were herded through a small gap in a gate to get into the Stadio Artemio Franchi and into the pathetic excuse of an away section.

There were a few dads and young lads who looked terrfied as we were pushed into that miserable ground.

Yeah, we met a few friendly Fiorentina fans while searching for a ticket for one of ur group but that was about it. And don't get me wrong, they weren't inviting us into their bar for bottles of Peroni and scarf swapping. They just didn't snarl at us like the rest.

Then there was our bemusement as their ultras reacted to the Viola's goals by flinging themselves at our plastic cage and making bizarre 'blow job' signs.

Of course I've got only myself (and Swedish barmaids, and Absinthe) to blame for missing my flight home....but let's just say my group of mates remember Florence with a wince and a forced laugh.

It was no Nuremeburg (so I'm told, again and again and again).

So no surprises from the 'Is there any justice in the world (No)' front that Liverpool's away contingent are likely to have a totally different experience tonight.

As James Pearce reported for the Echo last week;

FIORENTINA have agreed to dismantle the cage that they normally use to house away fans ahead of next Tuesday's Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Reds officials raised their concerns about the poor facilities for travelling supporters in the 47,000 capacity Stadio Artemio Franchi after a fact-finding trip to Italy earlier this month.

A report was sent to UEFA urging action and the Serie A club have started to make changes to benefit the 2,400 Reds fans.

Metal fencing has been removed which should improve the view for supporters who will be packed into an uncovered corner behind the goal.

Liverpool stadium manager and head of operations Ged Poynton today welcomed the development.

He said: "When we did our reccy a fortnight ago I had real concerns about the safety and welfare of our fans in that away end.

"It was one of the worst away sections I've seen in 19 years of going around European grounds.

"The fencing was so high and so deep that a lot of fans wouldn't have been able to even see half of the pitch.

"It would also have encouraged fans to all head for the top of the section where there is only a small railing and then a big drop.

"It was totally unacceptable and we made our point to club officials and the police. We asked if they would put their fans in that section and they said no.

"Our report was submitted to UEFA and we're very pleased to hear action is now being taken.

"Taking away some of the fencing is positive and we will see when we get there how far they have gone.

"It's still a poor section of the ground but any improve-ments are to be welcomed."

Florence Police are determined to avoid a repeat of the problems which dogged Everton's UEFA Cup clash in the city in March last year.

Blues supporters complained about over-zealous policing and claimed they were all treated like thugs.

Chief of Police Francesco Tagliente says lessons have been learned and he has even taken the step of consulting with Reds fans via fans forums on websites to ensure they enjoy the trip.

He has agreed not to enforce a city centre alcohol ban but sales will only be allowed in bars and restaurants, not in supermarkets, and drinking in public will not be permitted.

Free buses will transport visiting supporters to and from the ground, while there will be a Fan Zone by the stadium with a big screen as well as free food and bottles of water. A special hotline with an English operator has been set up to deal with any problems supporters encounter.

Under Italian law every ticket must have a fan's name and date of birth on it.

In the past when English clubs have travelled to Italy this rule has been ignored but this time they insist it will be enforced.

Supporters are expected to produce ID to prove they are the person who is named on the ticket.

Anyone with a ticket without their own name on must inform Liverpool they are using it and ensure they are on the list sent to Fiorentina detailing all fans who are travelling. Anyone not on the list won't be allowed in.

Tagliente is keen to prove his softer approach to policing works.

For Fiorentina's Champions League preliminary round clash with Sporting Lisbon last month there were only stewards and no police inside the stadium.

Poynton, who is also on UEFA's stadium construction and management panel, is confident the hosts' hospitality will be rewarded.

"Fiorentina have been very fair and friendly, and really want to look after our supporters," he said.

"We certainly don't envisage any trouble and I'm sure our fans will be fine ambassadors for the club.

"Yes, we made strong representation about the away end but that was not to be difficult.

"We did it for our fans as if we had said nothing our supporters would have been angry and upset with what greeted them at the stadium."

So, yeah, erm - I'm made-up the travelling Kopites won't have the same grief as us. And how typical that they have a new chief of police who favours the softly-softly approach along with free food and drink etc. The bars, shock horror, will even stay open to take the Reds' money.

Let's hope Everton F.C. have done a little reccy of Bate's ground too, and the band of blues who are setting off tomorrow aren't going to wince at their memories one day.