What are your thoughts, should the game go ahead?

Would it be giving in to terrorism to postpone these games, or is it the respectful thing to do?

Despite the death of over 170 people in Madrid today, four spanish sides will be in action on the European stage. Villareal host AS Roma, Barcelona travel to Scotland, Valencia travel to Turkey and Real Mallorca travel to England.

All four Spanish sides have requested that the games be postponed, but UEFA have confirmed they will go ahead tonight. Each game will involve a minute's silence before kickoff and the players will wear black arm bands in respect of the dead.

I'm sure the Spanish fans who have travelled to Glasgow, Ankara and Newcastle would all like to see a game, because if it's postponed it won't be played for at least another week. European games went ahead as planned on September 11, 2001, despite many Europeans killed in those attacks.

despite lotsa people being killed and the cruelty of this attack on innocent people, live goes on, so why not play your football match ?

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Hardstyle :

I agree, but I suspect other's won't. If one of the clubs gets hammered 5-0 then they are bound to complain that UEFA forced them to play on this day. I remember some clubs claiming the same after the Sept 11 games. Celtic said they would respect Barcelona's decision if they wanted the game postponed, but UEFA have stepped in to declare the games on.

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Originally posted by evil_bastard UEFA have stepped in to declare the games on.

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Well God spoke then lol

I think it should have been down to the clubs deciding on a game to game basis. True life does go on, but i know that some of the players would have been affected by this. If it happened in England, i would have expected our FA to step in and say games would be called off.....but then our FA do not always do the obvious thing

BTW evil_bastard, good result tonight

The minute silence lasted about 20-30 seconds. Good to see everybody actually managed to stay quiet, unlike those inbreds from mackemland.

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BTW evil_bastard, good result tonight

Cheers For an hour we were pretty poor, although the ref, linesman (appalling!) and their falling over players made it a very stop start game. Their goal was against the run of play and we actually began to play some proper football after that, which is when the difference in ability began to show. Robert scored from a free kick, sending the keeper the wrong way (penalty-style) from 35 yards with an excellent curl. What does this guy have to do to get in the France squad? 5 goals in 5 games for Bellamy since he came back from four months of injury!

Last edited by evil_bastard on Mar-11-2004 at 23:49

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Originally posted by evil_bastard Robert scored from a free kick, sending the keeper the wrong way (penalty-style) from 35 yards with an excellent curl. What does this guy have to do to get in the France squad?

my sentiments all along

I thoroughly enojoyed their forray in Europe last year and I hope them well this season, ofcourse up until they come up against Barca. Now that would be a game to remember.

edit: ofcourse, there is this little matter of celtic to take care of, but something tells me the Nou Camp will be beyond them...

Good to see a Geordie (Alan Thompson) score the winner against Barca. Wonder if Sven will consider him for the Euro Championships this summer? If we do face Barcelona or Celtic it'll be in the final. Barcelona aren't the same side in Europe as they were last year (last year they won 12 champs lge games in a row!) but Celtic will have to work hard for a result in the Nou Camp. Surprising to see Valencia lose, even though I expected they'd have a difficult time travelling to Turkey. Villareal were the only Spanish side to win today with a surprise 2-0 win over AS Roma.

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Originally posted by TiestoFanMatt I think it should have been down to the clubs deciding on a game to game basis.

UEFA and FIFA have shown themselves up on more than one occasion.

Seem to recall a FIFA statement saying that the Cameroon game would go on right after the death of Marc Vivien Foe as well.

They should play. 90 minutes worrying about something other than the bombings is good.

At first I thought the Celtic fans had been booing the minute's silence, but apparently they were booing a minority of Barcelona fans who had celebrated during the minute's "silence". I'm well aware of the history between Barcelona and Madrid and how Barcelona was treated under Franco but that's just disgraceful.

Last edited by evil_bastard on Mar-12-2004 at 15:56

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Originally posted by evil_bastard At first I thought the Celtic fans had been booing the minute's silence, but apparently they were booing a minority of Barcelona fans who had celebrated during the minute's "silence". I'm well aware of the history between Barcelona and Madrid and how Barcelona was treated under Franco but that's just disgraceful.

yeah it was a minority of the barca fans who started booing unfortunately

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This was a place of fun and madness that is sadly long gone now

All the best to all the UKTAs

08/01/16

Big Dave/little Dave

I give credit to the Spanish FA for this...

It's kind of like an theory for life as well as this case that the longer you put something off the harder it gets. The officials did this knowing that the best way to get back to living like how you would everyday is to actually do those things and soccer is a big part of that. Mentally the country can't be in fear because then we become weaker, we must show those they cannot put fear into Spain!

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Originally posted by ChemEnhanced any party from 2003 and back I only remember bits and pieces...i've combined those memories into one awesome party