Wolves question full house for behind-closed-doors tie
Slovan Bratislava were punished for racism Europa League game is a bit mad, says Coady
Captain Conor Coady has admitted it is “a bit mad” that Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing for a game in front of a packed house away against Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League on Thursday, even though the Slovakian club are supposed to be playing behind closed doors as a punishment for racism.
A Uefa loophole means tickets can instead be given to local football clubs and schools, with adults accompanying youngsters. Uefa imposed the sanction after racist chants by Slovan fans against PAOK of Greece in August.
Although Coady, whose team drew 1-1 at home with Southampton on Saturday, acknowledged the surreal nature of the situation, he was careful to not criticise Uefa. Nuno Espirito Santo, the Wolves manager, has also said that he would prefer to play in front of spectators.
Coady said: “I’ve heard it’s a behind-closed-doors sell-out. It’s a bit mad. Listen, it’s another adventure for us.”
Asked what his take was on Slovan Bratislava being pulled up for racism and told to play behind closed doors, but instead having a partisan crowd in their favour, the Wolves captain said: “Uefa do what Uefa do. It’s up to them.”
The Molineux crowd watched their club extend their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions on Saturday. Raul Jimenez’s 61st-minute equaliser for Wolves from the penalty spot had followed Danny Ings’s 53rd-minute strike.
Coady believes that, in the days before video assistant referees, Wolves would have won, because Jimenez had two first-half strikes ruled out by the system.
The second denial was the more confusing with Wolves players, at the time, even unaware why the decision had been made. It was later revealed that a marginal offside in the build-up had caused the goal to be chalked off.
Coady said: “Better communication is needed for everyone, really. He [the referee] has listened to the VAR. He doesn’t want to speak to us either. But they’ve come to the right decision.”
The Wolves captain was one of the defensive players who erred in the lead-up to Ings’ goal. Coady admitted he “lost concentration”, but team-mate Jesus Vallejo was also a guilty man for his poor clearance.
Vallejo, a 22-year-old on a seasonlong loan from Real Madrid, has captained Spain Under-21s, but struggled on his second Premier League appearance.
It is expected that Ings can become even fitter and stronger than he is now. Although the inform striker has five goals from his last four appearances, the Southampton manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl, said: “There is a lot more to come.”