Lens stadium not fit for Champions League: Blatter

Stewards evacuate fans after clashes between French riot police and Manchester United fans during the Champions League match between Lille and United at the Felix-Bollaert stadium in Lens, 20 February. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called on UEFA to stop organising Champions League matches at the stadium after Manchester United fans were caught in a crush there during a match last week.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called on UEFA to stop organising Champions League matches at French club Lens's Stade Felix-Bollaert after Manchester United fans were caught in a crush there during a match last week.

The crush developed behind fencing in a packed enclosure for visiting fans during a stormy Champions League tie between United and Lille, whose own stadium does not meet UEFA requirements.

Although no-one was seriously hurt, the incident generated a panic that triggered memories of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. French riot police fired tear gas into the crowd after some fans scaled the fences to try to escape the crush.

Blatter said Wednesday that English football had led the way in eliminating perimeter fencing in the aftermath of Hillsborough, where 96 Liverpool fans died, and said he could not understand why they were still allowed in France.

"I can't understand that those who organise the Champions League accept a stadium like Lens's to play such a match," Blatter said.

"We had the same problem at Lens and at St Etienne during the 1998 World Cup. They would not remove the fences but it should not be permitted to play Champions League matches in such a stadium."

UEFA could take the stadium off its approved list following a meeting of its control and disciplinary body which is to review the safety and security issues arising from the match on March 22.

United have tabled complaints over what they see as poor security arrangements at the ground and the heavy-handed response of the police.

Lille have said the English club contributed to the problem by distributing tickets early, enabling good forgeries to be made with the result that there were far too many fans crowded into the enclosure.

UEFA is also examining the behaviour of Lille fans who threw missiles onto the pitch after United had scored the only goal of the second round, first leg match through Ryan Giggs's quickly-taken free-kick.

A request from Lille for the match to be re-played on the grounds that the free-kick should not have been taken without the referee blowing his whistle was thrown out by UEFA last week.