A game in Bulgaria give huge opportunities for the Michael Shields campaign.

**Uncle Spike** · July 29th, 2005, 07:40 PM

As I am sure most of you have already worked out, today's Champion's League Third Qualifying round draw means a trip to Bulgaria to play CSKA Sofia is overwhelmingly likely.
A game in Bulgaria at this time give a huge potential boost to the Free Michael Shields Campaign.
It's one thing for the Bulgarian Authorities to ignore floods of letters arriving from Merseyside. It will quite another thing for them to ignore (hopefully) thousands of Liverpool fans arriving with banners and leaflets for the local population.
There is an opportunity now to bring this case to the forefront of attention in Europe.
I should imagine the Bulgarian Government are cursing todays draw! What's the betting they order CSKA Sofia to severely limit the numbers of tickets available to Liverpool fans?
(In fact, I wouldn't totally put it past them to try to get CSKA to throw the second leg against the Albanians, that would certainly get them off the hook!)
Let's hope some good planning can make the most of this opportunity.

**Scouse Paul** · July 30th, 2005, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Spike

As I am sure most of you have already worked out, today's Champion's League Third Qualifying round draw means a trip to Bulgaria to play CSKA Sofia is overwhelmingly likely.
A game in Bulgaria at this time give a huge potential boost to the Free Michael Shields Campaign.
It's one thing for the Bulgarian Authorities to ignore floods of letters arriving from Merseyside. It will quite another thing for them to ignore (hopefully) thousands of Liverpool fans arriving with banners and leaflets for the local population.
There is an opportunity now to bring this case to the forefront of attention in Europe.
I should imagine the Bulgarian Government are cursing todays draw! What's the betting they order CSKA Sofia to severely limit the numbers of tickets available to Liverpool fans?
(In fact, I wouldn't totally put it past them to try to get CSKA to throw the second leg against the Albanians, that would certainly get them off the hook!)
Let's hope some good planning can make the most of this opportunity.

Spike

A nice sentiment & hopefully one that will not be necessary given the real culprit's submission of a signed confession yesterday. However having seen the way the Bulgarian police dealt with the 1,000 CSKA fans who turned up to support LFC when we played Levski last year, I woud think long & hard about an anti-Bulgarian protest at the ground because Michael would not be short of company - albeit company with very sore heads

Paul

**Albert Stubbins** · July 30th, 2005, 08:35 AM

As I noted in another thread, if Michael Shields remains in gaol, if and when Liverpool arrive in Bulgaria, I would expect the club captain to be lined up outside the gaol during visiting hours.