Tony Cottee was left raging as West Ham United were drawn to play against Freiburg again in the Europa League on Friday.
The Hammers did the double over the German outfit during the group stages of the competition, but will now face them home and away once again in the knockout rounds after Friday’s draw by UEFA.
That’s because Freiburg went through to this round via a playoff, but Cottee believes it is “absolutely ridiculous” that the rules allow this to happen.
“How poor of UEFA that West Ham and Freiburg can be drawn again to play each other in the same competition in the same season,” he wrote on his personal Twitter account (23 February).
“I know our fans were banned last time but it is still Groundhog Day for the players, clubs and fans.
“Absolutely ridiculous rules.”
West Ham know UEFA are ridiculous for this rule
There is no reason for this rule to exist, and UEFA know it too considering it isn’t allowed to happen in the Champions League.
In the top competition clubs are barred from being drawn against a team from their own nation or a team from their own group in the first knockout round, so it’s weird that isn’t the case in the Europa League.
Obviously Freiburg went through via a different route to West Ham which meant they played a knockout round already, but they couldn’t play the Hammers there as they weren’t in that round.
How poor of UEFA that West Ham & Freiburg can be drawn again to play each other in the same competition in the same season …
I know our fans were banned last time but it is still Groundhog Day for the players, Clubs & fans … absolutely ridiculous rules ?!!!
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— Tony Cottee (@TonyCottee9) February 23, 2024
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European clubs and football fans want these competitions to be full of exciting match ups that give everyone a unique opportunity, but this just ruins it.
There were so many other options and the fact that this ridiculous rule effected three different ties in this round of the tournament says it all. It needs binning.
In other West Ham news, “Huge Boost” shared as David Moyes drops injury update before Brentford clash.
