LONDON - The spectre of racism hangs over the resumption of the Europa League today, with Liverpool expressing "major concern" that the last-32 match against Zenit St Petersburg will be marred by racist abuse from the Russian team's fans.
Liverpool officials are concerned about the welfare of the club's players in light of a document published by a section of Zenit supporters in December, urging the team not to sign black or gay players.
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has written to Uefa and Zenit to detail his concerns, and said players will be briefed about how to respond in the event they suffer abuse.
"The most we can do is make our feelings clear ahead of the game, and hope that we get an adequate response and adequate support on the night," Ayre said. "That's about the most we can do at this stage.
"I'm certainly hopeful that the right people will take the right action to ensure it's a game where we don't have that type of incident."
Zenit are among a raft of eastern European teams in the last 32 who have yet to resume their domestic league campaigns after the winter break, likely leaving them rusty and struggling for match sharpness.
Sparta Prague face the same problem ahead of their match against Chelsea, the European champions who dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in their Champions League group.
The London club is expected to take the competition seriously as it is one of only two realistic opportunities for silverware this season.
"It is true the Europa League is not the same as the Champions League because that is the top, but the Europa League is a big competition, an important competition, and now we have the chance to win it," Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta said.
"Never in the history of Chelsea have we won this cup and we are going to try to do it."
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech returns to his former club and is likely to play despite having a broken finger.
In other high-profile matches, Tottenham host the high-flying Lyon, Ajax are at home to Steaua Bucharest in a match between two former European champions and Rubin Kazan visit Atletico Madrid, the defending champions who are bidding to become only the third team to retain the trophy.
Reds brace for deluge of abuse
LONDON - The spectre of racism hangs over the resumption of the Europa League today, with Liverpool expressing "major concern" that the last-32 match against Zenit St Petersburg will be marred by racist abuse from the Russian team's fans.
Liverpool officials are concerned about the welfare of the club's players in light of a document published by a section of Zenit supporters in December, urging the team not to sign black or gay players.
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has written to Uefa and Zenit to detail his concerns, and said players will be briefed about how to respond in the event they suffer abuse.
"The most we can do is make our feelings clear ahead of the game, and hope that we get an adequate response and adequate support on the night," Ayre said. "That's about the most we can do at this stage.
"I'm certainly hopeful that the right people will take the right action to ensure it's a game where we don't have that type of incident."
Zenit are among a raft of eastern European teams in the last 32 who have yet to resume their domestic league campaigns after the winter break, likely leaving them rusty and struggling for match sharpness.
Sparta Prague face the same problem ahead of their match against Chelsea, the European champions who dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in their Champions League group.
The London club is expected to take the competition seriously as it is one of only two realistic opportunities for silverware this season.
"It is true the Europa League is not the same as the Champions League because that is the top, but the Europa League is a big competition, an important competition, and now we have the chance to win it," Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta said.
"Never in the history of Chelsea have we won this cup and we are going to try to do it."
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech returns to his former club and is likely to play despite having a broken finger.
In other high-profile matches, Tottenham host the high-flying Lyon, Ajax are at home to Steaua Bucharest in a match between two former European champions and Rubin Kazan visit Atletico Madrid, the defending champions who are bidding to become only the third team to retain the trophy.
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