Prague final fears if Hammers qualify
FA and Met concern over European showpiece
THE FA and Metropolitan Police are concerned that the Europa Conference League final could present a public order risk if West Ham reach the showpiece in Prague’s 20,800- capacity Eden Arena.
If the Hammers progress there are fears thousands of ticketless supporters will descend on the Czech capital.
About 10,000 West Ham fans without tickets attended last year’s Europa League semi-final defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt, which led to violent scenes in the city with travelling supporters attacked by Eintracht ultras.
UEFA insist they cannot change the venue at this stage as the match was given to Prague last year following a 12- month bidding process, but would be willing to give more tickets to West Ham fans if they qualify.
West Ham will face AZ Alkmaar in Thursday’s semi-final first leg in buoyant mood after all but securing their Premier League status with Sunday’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, while Fiorentina meet Basle in the other semi.
The finalists have initially been allocated just 4,000 tickets, with 8,500 set aside for the public and 4,300 reserved for sponsors and national associations. A few thousand of the general sale tickets could be handed over to both clubs if West Ham make it through.
West Ham have not reached a major European final since the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup, so fans are expected to travel en masse should they beat AZ.
The FA will demand assurances from UEFA that the event can be run safely if West Ham qualify, particularly given the chaos that marred Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid in Paris last season, which an independent report deemed was ‘the primary responsibility’ for UEFA.
The Met would be responsible for maintaining order among the travelling fans rather than the Football Policing Unit, who take charge of England’s away games, as West Ham are a London club.
UEFA have recognised their error in taking the final to a small stadium and have raised the minimum capacity for clubs hoping to stage next year’s final to 30,000.