West Ham’s dear friends at UEFA are reportedly putting a contingency plan together for the Europa League final.
It’s fair to say UEFA bigwigs won’t be on the Christmas card list of West Ham’s owners or fans.
Hammers supporters have loved following their team playing in Europe over the last three years.
Culminating in of course winning the Europa Conference League last summer.
But UEFA have dished out fines to West Ham, fan bans and – in their infinite wisdom – selected a 19,000 capacity stadium for a major European final which meant only 6,000 Hammers could watch the team win a first trophy for 43 years in Prague.
UEFA bigwigs not on West Ham’s Christmas card list
Don’t even get West Ham started on the 5.45pm kick-off slot handed to the club for the crunch Europa League last 16 second leg with Freiburg.
That decision – made so Liverpool could be in the 8pm slot for broadcasters – has enraged supporters.
And it has made it almost impossible for many fans to attend the match at the London Stadium, leaving thousands of seats empty just over 24 hours from the game.
Well now the Hammers have had their noses put out of joint by European football’s governing body again.
Contingency plans for final revolve around Liverpool and Rangers
Because UEFA are making contingency plans for the Europa League final and it’s a real slap in the face for West Ham.
According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol UEFA are making special arrangements for a Liverpool vs Rangers final in Dublin.
Solhekol reckons UEFA are concerned the 51,700 capacity Aviva Stadium in Dublin won’t suffice should that situation arise.
So the 82,000-capacity Croke Park has been reserved as public viewing venue.
And UEFA are also going out of their way to look at more venues for fans to watch what could be Jurgen Klopp’s last game.
Is it any wonder fans of non-elite clubs like West Ham are sick and tired of the favouritism afforded to the likes of Liverpool?
West Ham are massive and UEFA wrong to ignore us
And fair enough UEFA anticipating Liverpool making the final – something they’d no doubt love for the “prestige” of the competition.
But Rangers? Even with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg West Ham are a much better bet for making the final than the Scottish side.
If anything UEFA should be preparing for West Ham fans as much as anyone. Because nearly 30,000 travelled to Prague for the final despite the paltry number of tickets available to attend the game.
If the Hammers get to Dublin it will be a claret and blue invasion. So UEFA should be making contingency plans for West Ham.
But of course David Moyes and the boys have to get the job done against Freiburg first.
Then we can start plotting to prove UEFA are wrong to ignore us.
