Thrills not tills is way for UEFA to reward loyal fans

THEY love a banner at the Allianz Arena… and a flare or three. Hence the absence of Bayern Munich fans at the Emirates for the first leg.

And within a few minutes of the first whistle sounding – when the smoke from the latest round of pyrotechnics had almost lifted (circle) – the Ultras on the Sudkurve unravelled a canvas that stretched the length of the stand behind David Raya’s goal.

It read: “WE DON’T LIKE YOU EITHER. EXCLUDE UEFA! GET OUT OF OUR STADIUM!”

If the VIPS had finished their dinners, they might have been squirming in their seats.

Or they might not have even cared.

Never mind the rank and file fans, feel the bank balance and listen to those cash tills ringing.

In terms of quality, this was not the most compelling contest.

But in terms of edginess, in terms of tension, in terms of win-or-bust, it was what the European Cup should be all about.

Let’s face it, this has been another edition of the Champions League that has only sprung into any sort of life at this very late stage, the last-eight stage.

And what are UEFA doing to the competition next season? Making it even more bloated.

The jeopardy that was felt in this match from the very first whistle is the sort of jeopardy that should be there from a very early stage of the competition.

Instead, the group stages – or the Swiss-model stages next season – are merely cash-making exercises and formalities for the economic powerhouses of the game. And they are there for the family of sponsors to get their money’s worth.

Out of loyalty to their clubs, the supporters still show up – and how are they rewarded? Here’s how.

Whichever two clubs get to the final, they only get 25,000 tickets per club for a stadium that holds more than 86,000 spectators.

And whichever two clubs get to the final, there will not be an atmosphere at Wembley that will be anywhere near as febrile as the one created at the Allianz for this occasion.

This is a cacophonous place that never fails to raise the neck-hairs; it’s bedlam from kick-off.

For Arsenal’s younger players, this was part of their learning curve, trying to hold their nerve in the most pressurised of environments, in front of 75,000 baying fans (top).

But that is what European football – the European Cup (its real name), in particular – should be all about.

And that is what it should be all about long before the middle of April.

The fans still go through the turnstiles, they still produce memorable nights like this – but these loyal supporters cannot be taken for granted.

And if UEFA did not already know that, they were told in no uncertain terms last night by Bayern’s Ultras.

Let’s hope they take heed.