But despite someone else actually claiming responsibility for the attack through a sworn statement, the Bulgarian judge still sentenced Shields to the 15 year term.
But Carra pledged his support for the condemned man, adding, "I want to dedicate that goal to Michael Shields and all his family who are suffering so badly right now."
"When we got the news that he'd not only be found guilty for a crime he didn't commit but actually been sentenced to 15 years, our hearts sank. For myself, Steven and the other local lads in the team, it really hit us. He's one of us; a young lad who went to a game to watch Liverpool and ended up being thrown in prison in a foreign country," J.C added.
"I'm not sure how the justice system works in Bulgaria but hopefully something can be done about this case. I think somebody very high up in the government - possibly even Tony Blair himself - should step in and fight Michael's corner because what has happened is wrong. There is a lad in Liverpool who has owned up to the crime and admitted it was him and not Michael Shields who is the guilty one," he concluded.