UEFA HAS DEFENDED its “fair and transparent bidding process” for the Europa League final and is working to find cheaper options for Arsenal and Chelsea fans travelling to Baku.
The build-up to the 29 May encounter has been mired in logistical and financial challenges for supporters hoping to reach the Azerbaijani capital.
The Premier League heavyweights have been allocated no more than 6,000 tickets each, a small fraction of the 68,700-capacity Olympic Stadium and a number ridiculed by supporter groups of both sides.
UEFA’s move to alleviate the stress on local airports led a “bitterly disappointed” Arsenal to brand the awarding of hosting rights to a venue with “such limited transport provision” as “quite simply not right”.
Baku was selected ahead of Seville and Istanbul in September 2017.
In a letter to the Gunners, UEFA said: “It goes without saying that an all-English final played by two London teams was not a very predictable event at the time of the appointment.
“There is little doubt that this has added significant difficulties to the event logistics.
We are really sorry for the problems that your (and Chelsea’s) fans are encountering trying to organise their journey to Baku.
“Our experts are keenly working on this matter with a view to helping find cheaper solutions for travelling fans.
“We would welcome a joint effort with your club in this respect.”
While confirming its readiness to work with Arsenal, UEFA further argued that showpiece contests such as the Europa League final should not be confined to countries with high-performing clubs.
“That’s why UEFA would consider [it] utterly unfair to exclude certain venues just based on their decentralised geographical position,” the governing body added.
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That’s incredible
@Jim Demps: the fast lane was left wide open for Wade to get through… You wouldn’t see a hole that big in regular season. Still though, great vision and speed to score. Big things await this guy.
@Peter Cavey: it certainly does have all the hall marks of a pre season game but to score on a 65 yarder on your first touch is pretty special.
Delighted for him. Took some set of balls to do this, hope it works out for him.
Delighted for tbe guy, took way too much flak on departure.
That’s the thing about American Football.. Runners usually don’t sidestep, jink or hand-off, just take the contact and set up again. Strange Sport. (Not saying that I could do any better.)
@Seamus Quinn: they do jink and sidestep
@Colm Connolly: and I’m pretty sure he didn’t sidestep or hand off anyone en route to scoring that TD either….
@Liam Flague: I’m not saying he did but the original comment said that running backs dont jink or sidestep which is clearly not true if you have ever watch even 1 game
@Colm Connolly: I know, but, y’know.. more.
@Seamus Quinn: You must be watching a different sport to the one I watch. Literally the best side steps and jinks in world sport are found in the NFL.
@Liam Flague: He certainly seems to send the first defender the wrong way with a shimmy just after he gets the ball. No-one’s expecting someone to get through that area with the ball in hand so after that yeah it’s a straight race and he doesn’t need to step anyone else.
@Seamus Quinn: no hand off cos the defender will rip your arm off if you try . Loads of jinks and steps by running backs though
@Limón Madrugada: Fair enough. Arms are kinda handy. Still think they’re in the habit of taking the hit instead of trying to beat the last man. Wade might try things a little differently..