This is a difficult post to write.
I really don't know what to say.
The atmosphere was intimidating from the off. The Liverpool fans were magnificent, and for a while, the Millwall fans were too. OK, we were all glad to be tucked up in the away end, but there was no real indication of what was about to happen.
I think the turning point was Salif's goal. Well done, big fella, by the way. The change in the mood was not easy to spot at first. But gradually, more and more Millwall supporters in the East and West stands seemed to be constantly looking at us, rather than the game. As half time approached, the chanting really began in earnest. I don't wan't to repeat what they sang. I don't even want to remember it.
There was a lady sitting a couple of rows back from us. She was in tears. Her boyfriend/husband was trying to console her, but the anger in his eyes was all too clear. And he was not alone. Disbelief at what we were hearing was replaced by a manic desire to do something - anything.
Half time was a relief. As the second half approached, I texted a mate of mine (Millwall fan) who was in the upper tier of the West Stand, basically asking him what the f*ck was going on. He was mortified by what he was hearing, but told me things would probably get worse. Apparently, there were two Liverpool fans sitting near him. One had gone to the toilet at half time. He was beaten senseless, and never returned to his seat.
The mood in the Liverpool crowd was worsening. People were shouting, trying to find an outlet for the rage that we all felt. Some fans were trying to calm things down, but the damage had been done. I knew then that it was all going to kick off.
The second half began. The chanting continued, and the Millwall fans were stirred up even more by the deplorable actions of some of thier players. Some of the challenges were career ending in thier ferocity. And the more thier players acted like thugs, the more thier supporters goaded us. Then the fight broke out.
My Millwall mate said after the game that the now lone Liverpool fan in the upper West Stand was trying to find out what had happened to his mate. He was talking to a steward, when the surrounding Millwall supporters started to wade in. The Steward tried to get the man out, but he was constantly beaten back down the steps. By the time more stewards arrived, he too was beaten to a pulp.
Now, all we saw was a fan being beaten up. We could see he was red, and the mood in our stand darkened even more. As he was eventually being led away, he managed to turn and salute our end. He may have been down, but he was red, and he was not out. Our fans here deserve great credit. Disgusting chants about Hillsborough seemed to be coming from both sides of our end, and our supporters were responding with 'Justice' songs. I had tears in my eyes. I was so proud.
Milan scored on the pitch (nice one). As we celebrated the goal, coins rained down on us from the West Stand. They were returned with interest. Then some Millwall supporters tried to rush our fans in the corner. That was it, enough was enough. Seats were ripped up, and we defended our own. Liverpool fans seemed to be coming down fron the upper tier, and we headed for the corner and threw everything we had at the Millwall fans. The Police managed, somehow, to keep us appart. I am not a violent man, but at that exact point, if I had managed to get my hands on a Millwall supporter, I could have killed him. I am in no way proud of that. But every man has his limit - and I had been pushed well beyond mine.
The situation was just about contained. The Millwall fans continued to chant things that even now are making me well up with anger. The Liverpool fans responded with more 'Justice' chants. The red fans around me were going apaplectic. I was too.
Milan scored again (but I missed it), and the 'game', thankfully, came to an end. The Millwall fans continued to goad us as they left (slowly). Thak God we were kept inside the ground while the police cleared the streets, because I swear that lives would have been lost.
The rest of this horrible experience doesn't really matter.
dont anyone give us any of that "ther's no excuses for Liverpool fans behaviour." f*ckin w@nkers.