A disabled season ticket holder was left disgusted after claiming a steward wouldn't let him into Liverpool FC's opening home game of the season with his carers.
Steve Rizzotti, 52, claims a series of "cock ups" involving Liverpool's new ticketing system and website meant he missed his first home Champion's League game ever and nearly the first home game of the season.
Steve, who uses a wheelchair and requires two carers to accompany him at matches, said trying to get into home games this season has been "an absolute nightmare".
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The problem, Steve said, stemmed from Liverpool's new NFC ticketing system which - at times - has caused problems outside Anfield this season.
A spokesperson for Liverpool FC told the ECHO the club is "committed to ensuring all our disabled supporters have the best possible experience" and has since been in contact with Mr Rizzotti to resolve the issues.
Steve, who lives in Warrington, told the ECHO : "It's been a nightmare, an absolute nightmare.
"What happened is mine [tickets] had downloaded but my pass for my PA (personal assistant) hadn't.
"For whatever reason I had to reset my password and all my accounts after my Liverpool account went haywire."
Steve said he was asked to attend the ticket office before the Liverpool match against Burnley on August 21.
Despite repeated attempts, Steve said the staff at the ticket office were unable to download Steve's pass for his two personal assistants, and instructed him to approach the steward and explain the situation who would then let him into the ground.
However, Steve claims the steward would not accept his explanation, and refused to let in one of his personal assistants.
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Steve said: "The steward said you're not coming in, the PA ticket hasn't downloaded.
"After a bit of arguing, which was embarrassing to quite honest, he said we're going to let one of your PA's in with you."
This, Steve said, was unacceptable as the nature of his disability requires two PA's to accompany him to each game.
He said: "I said are you questioning my disability. And he said I'm just telling you, you can't have two PA's.
"I could hear the music and the crowd starting to sing You'll Never Walk Alone.
"I was ashamed of myself. When I was trying to get in the first game - I was like I'm not moving, I've been to the ticket office, you're not letting me in but it's a problem with Liverpool ticketing system.
"I showed him I was registered to those seats but it hadn't downloaded.
"I said I can't show you any more. I said you get in touch with the ticket office.
"Pick a phone up and get in touch with them, I'm sure you can. No, he wouldn't do it, he was adamant and that was it."
Devastated and about to leave, Steve chanced upon a steward who recognised him from all the home and away games he attends.
Finally, another staff member was able to convince the steward to let him into the game with both personal assistants.
But Steve said worse was to come, as following that incident, another problem with the payment system meant he had to miss his first European home game in years.
Just before Liverpool's home game against AC Milan this month, Steve said he received an email from the club saying his payment card had been rejected.
Despite repeated attempts trying to resolve the problem through Liverpool FC's official channels and contacting his bank who Steve said confirmed his credit card was fine and no payment had attempted to be taken by the club, he was unable to pay to reserve his space in the wheelchair bay and had to watch the game at home on TV.
Steve said: "I'm watching the game and I said I'm sure my seat's empty because I'm pretty close to where Klopp is. So I phoned my mate and he confirmed it was empty
"I got in touch with Liverpool the day after. I was on the phone waiting for about an hour and 55 minutes waiting to get through.
"The girl was helpful, she said I can see that we're still holding the tickets for you.
"The seat wasn't even used and they hadn't sold it on.
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"That's the first European game I've missed - I was absolutely devastated. I couldn't believe it."
Steve added: "They were telling me they were just mad busy and everybody was having problems. I was thinking this is Liverpool football club - I can't believe that.
"All the away games I've been to there's no problem. You get your ticket and that's it, you're in.
"It's been an absolute nightmare and missing that game and knowing that the seat was empty, it's just ridiculous."
Steve said he felt bad complaining about his beloved club, but didn't feel confident that he wouldn't experience more problems at future games this season.
A Liverpool FC spokesperson, said: “We are committed to ensuring all our disabled supporters have the best possible experience when visiting Anfield.
"We have a dedicated disability ticketing team that assist our supporters with ticketing enquiries, along with a dedicated Disability Access Officer, who supports with accessibility matters for supporters.
"We are proud to have consistently come top of the Premier League’s Visit Football Accessibility Assessments in recent years, and also work very closely with the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association, which represents a large portion of our disabled supporters.
"We have already been in contact directly with Mr Rizzotti and resolved these ticketing issues.”
The club also said Steve and his two personal assistants have been given access cards to get into the ground which they used to attend Saturday's game against Crystal Palace, and they will be able to use them for the remainder of the season.
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