talkSPORT have slammed a farcical situation for West Ham if they make the Europa Conference League final after a ‘disgusting’ of UEFA decision.
West Ham are now just one step away from a European final after beating Gent on Thursday night.
It is a second consecutive European semi-final for the Hammers.
Fortuna’s always hiding
And West Ham’s manager, players and fans are now dreaming of going one better than last year by making it to the final against either Fiorentina or Basel.
The Europa Conference League final takes place on June 7 at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.
While the prospect of a trip to Prague will be tantalising for West Ham supporters – and Hammers duo Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek – it will actually leave thousands upon thousands disappointed.
Now talkSPORT have slammed the farcical situation for West Ham if they make the Europa Conference League final after a ‘disgusting’ UEFA decision.
The Fortuna Arena holds just 19,370 fans. That’s already over 3,000 less than last season’s final venue – the Air Albania Stadium.
talkSPORT slam farcical situation for West Ham if they make the Europa Conference League final after ‘disgusting’ UEFA decision
It was already a seriously questionable decision from UEFA to hold a final at such a small ground.
Especially when you consider West Ham play in front of 62,500 fans at the London Stadium, Fiorentina in front of 45k at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and Basel in front of 38k at St Jakob-Park.
But somehow UEFA have conspired to make things even worse.
Because West Ham – should they get there – will get just 5,000 tickets for one of the biggest matches in the club’s history.
The matter was described as ‘barking’, ‘disgusting’, ’embarrassing’ and ‘madness’ by talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein and ex Premier League star Darren Bent.
‘That’s quite disgusting’
“The thing I think that’s barking (mad) is that the final is going to be in Prague in a stadium which has a capacity of (less than) 20,000,” Goldstein said on talkSPORT.
“And both sets of fans, if it’s West Ham if they get to the final, will get just 5,000 tickets.
“You get to a European final and you get just 5,000 tickets, that’s quite disgusting isn’t it.”
“DISGUSTING!” Bent interjects.
“How many are corporate as well?”
“Well if it holds 20k and you get 5,000 each… they’re (the other 10k) not necessarily (all) corporate but they’ll be on sale for the general public.”
‘Football for all’ – What about the actual fans of the clubs involved?
Goldstein is right. Anyone can buy the other general sale tickets – as was the case before the Europa League final last season.
It is part of UEFA’s football for all drive which then uses a ballot system to allocate them.
But let’s just hope West Ham can get there first. Then we can worry about this particular issue. One things if for certain, it won’t stop Hammers fans travelling en masse to Prague regardless.
