West Ham's Europa Conference League Final: Public Order Concerns Amidst Ticketless Fan Fears

West Ham's Europa Conference League Final: Public Order Concerns Amidst Ticketless Fan Fears

The FA and Met Police fear the Europa Conference League final could pose a risk to public order if West Ham qualify, as thousands of ticketless fans could descend on Prague, with finalists guaranteeing just 4,000 squares. 

 

The FA and Metropolitan Police fear the Europa Conference League final could pose a risk to public order if West Ham qualify for the showpiece occasion at the 20,800-capacity Fortuna Arena amid the fears of thousands of ticketless fans descending on Prague. 

 

Around 10,000 West Ham fans without tickets attended last season's Europa League semi-final loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, which led to violent scenes in the city with traveling supporters being attacked by Eintracht Ultras. UEFA insist they cannot change the venue at this stage after last year's Prague game was awarded after a 12-month bid process, but would be willing to offer West Ham fans additional tickets if they are mature. 

 

 

David Moyes' side face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the semi-finals on Thursday in high spirits after securing Premier League status with Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United, while Fiorentina meet Basel in the last four. Only 4,000 tickets have been allocated to the finalists, with 8,500 set aside for the public and 4,300 reserved for supporters and national team members, but a few thousand pre-sale tickets could be handed over to both clubs if West Ham go through him.

 

West Ham have not reached a major European final since the 1976 European Cup Winners Cup so their supporters are expected to travel in large numbers, especially as there are cheap flights to Prague and the famous city. popular among tourists and sports teams. The FA is aware of the situation, and they will demand from UEFA that the event can go ahead without any problems if the Hammers qualify, especially because of the crowd disturbances that marred the final of The Champions League of Liverpool v Real Madrid in Paris last season, was a free story. it is considered to be the "first project" of UEFA. 

 

The Met will be responsible for policing the marchers instead of the Football Police, which oversees away games in England, with West Ham being a London club. To compound matters there are less than three weeks between the semi-final second legs and the final so preparation time is limited. 

 

UEFA have recognised their error in taking the Europa Conference League final to such a small stadium and have raised the minimum capacity for clubs hoping to stage next year’s final to 30,000. The League was created as a new competition for clubs from small European countries, but those from the big leagues dominate the final stage, and Jose Mourinho's Roma won last year's first edition at the 'Arena Kombetare in Tirana, Albania.