The UEFA report, which was carried out on commission by undercover police agents over a four-year period, will be presented to British sports minister Richard Caborn on Tuesday.

It paints a damning picture of the Liverpool fans' behaviour at last month's Champions League final in Athens, accusing them of stealing tickets from their fellow supporters, charging the gates to get into the ground without tickets and causing trouble outside the stadium which ended with tear gas being used.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry, however, defended the fans saying that UEFA's failure to heed the club's warnings about potential security and ticketing problems were to blame.

He charged that UEFA were trying to pass the buck, having praised Liverpool fans before the final.

"The shortcomings in the management of the situation in Athens were apparent to anyone who was there," Parry told the club's official website www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"These latest comments from UEFA should not deflect attention from that reality

"What is most surprising about the latest comments from (UEFA spokesman) Mr Gaillard is that on the eve of the final, he quite rightly commented that Liverpool supporters ôhave a tradition of good behaviour'.

"Let's not forget that these same supporters who Mr Gaillard is claiming are now the worst in Europe were praised by UEFA president Michel Platini after our semifinal victory against Chelsea only last month, commended for their behaviour in Istanbul in 2005 and actually honoured by UEFA at a gala dinner in Monte Carlo in 2001 as joint Supporters of the Years with Alaves after the UEFA Cup final."

Sports minister Caborn, who is meeting Platini on Tuesday, said: "I have a lot of sympathy with the Liverpool fans who paid their hard-earned money for genuine tickets but couldn't get into the ground.

"The reasons for this need an urgent explanation. We have already raised the matter with the Greek authorities through our embassy in Athens and Government officials are also talking with UEFA.

"I will be putting this issue high on the agenda at a meeting I am to have with Michel Platini."