NEWCASTLE United yesterday hit back at criticism over their ticket pricing for Champions' League matches.

United have taken flak from some fans for charging the same prices for their three Champions' League group matches against Feyenoord, Dynamo Kiev and Juventus, as for Premiership games.

Prices for top-flight games range from £27-33 for adults.

But Newcastle were quick to point out that they adopted the same policy when last in Europe's elite club competition five years ago.

The Magpies released a statement, saying: "Newcastle United always give very careful consideration to its ticket pricing structure.

"In setting the prices for the three Champions' League group matches at the same level as those for the Barclaycard Premiership, the club feels those prices to be very fair and reasonable.

"The club has demonstrated its consideration for their loyal and passionate supporters in the past few seasons through its flexible approach to its pricing structure.

"For example, games in the Intertoto Cup, the recent friendly with Barcelona, as well as numerous other FA Cup and League Cup ties, all had ticket prices well below the established Premiership norm.

"The matches in the Champions' League are, after all, at the highest level of European football with the competition universally recognised as the best club competition in the world.

"The club adopted the same policy for the matches in the 1997-98 Champions' League campaign.''

United open their group campaign on Wednesday week with a trip to Kiev, where they also played five years ago.

The Ukrainians have been cleared to take part in the competition after surviving a bid by Bulgaria's Levski Sofia to have them thrown out.

Levski, who lost to Dynamo in qualifying, complained that their opponents fielded an ineligible player in Goran Sablic, who was signed from Croatians Hadjuk Split after the UEFA registration deadline.

But a UEFA spokesman said: "There has been a misunderstanding about our rules and how they are to be applied, but Dynamo Kiev will play in the next stages of the competition.''

Meanwhile, Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given will become the club's second most capped player when he lines up for the Republic of Ireland in Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia in Moscow.

Given will collect his 36th cap and overtake skipper Alan Shearer, who played 35 times for England while a United player before retiring from the international game after Euro 2000.

United's most capped player of all time is Alf McMichael, who made 40 appearances for Northern Ireland in the 1950s.

Given, hoping to shake off back and calf injuries to be fit for the weekend, said: "When you look at the magnificent players Newcastle have had over the years, I look upon it as a great honour to become their second most capped player.

"I actually made my international debut against Russia in 1996 when I was with Blackburn and the wheel has turned full circle for me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think things would work out the way they have.

"I haven't looked back since I came off the transfer list a year past January and things could hardly have gone better."

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