Atletico Madrid will play its Champions League match against Liverpool at its home stadium after UEFA decided Thursday that the teams weren't given enough notice of a proposed ban. European football's ruling body on Tuesday had ordered Atletico to play two games at a neutral venue because of violent and racist behavior by its fans during a recent match against Marseille. But Liverpool complained that many of its fans had already booked travel and accommodation in Madrid for next Wednesday's match. “We were concerned that if the game was moved it would have created tremendous problems for Liverpool fans,” UEFA spokesman William Gaillard told Britain's Sky Sports News. Atletico had been fined $204,600 and ordered to play its matches against Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven at a venue at least 300 kilometers from Madrid because of racist chants toward Marseille players. Gaillard said the fine and ban for the PSV match on Nov. 26 still stood but UEFA is scheduled to hear an appeal by the Spanish club on Oct. 31. “We're delighted at the decision because it means our fans can travel to the game as previously planned without additional expense or inconvenience,” Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said. “(We are) pleased UEFA have listened to and acted on the arguments we put forward this week.” Two hit with doping bans US players Jon Conway and Jeff Parke of New York Red Bulls were each suspended for 10 games and fined 10 percent of their Major League Soccer salary Thursday after positive doping tests. MLS Commissioner Don Garber imposed the sanctions after goalkeeper Conway and defender Parke tested positive for performance-enhancing substances androstatriendione (ATD) and metabolites of boldenone. The players bought a nutritional supplement from a nationwide vitamin store chain that contained the banned substances, an MLS statement said. “MLS has one of the strictest drug policies in professional sports,” Garber said.
