Reds manager pleads for calm in Bulgaria
Aug 10 2005
Daily Post
RAFAEL BENITEZ called for "friendliness" between the fans of CSKA Sofia and Liverpool following Michael Shields' conviction for attempted liquidate in Bulgaria.
Shields, 19, from Liverpool, was convicted of attempted liquidate and sentenced last week to 15 years in prison for hitting a Bulgarian bartender with a paving stone, leaving him with brain damage.
Shields and several other English football fans had been visiting Bulgaria after watching Liverpool win the Champions League final in Turkey.
"The best thing that we can do is to support our team, talk about football and try to have a good journey here. And after we wait and we hope to see Michael Shields as soon as possible in England," said Anfield boss Benitez.
"I am a football coach and this is a difficult situation. We want to support the family of Michael Shields and we want to support the family of the man who was injured.
"The rest is for the courts to decide, and it is more important that our fans will think of friendliness in the game and not other things.
"I hope we will see a good game of football and that all the fans enjoy it. Afterwards we will wait and see what the courts say."
He added: "We need to talk of good relations in football, and we will support both the families and that is the best for everyone.
"We know that it is a court problem and it would be better to see our supporters and CSKA's supporters thinking about football."
