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UEFA has defended the allocation of tickets for the Europa League final in Baku, claiming it would not be responsible to issue Chelsea and Arsenal fans more than 6,000 each.<\/p>\nUEFA has defended the allocation of tickets for the Europa League final in Baku, claiming it would not be responsible to issue Chelsea and Arsenal fans more than 6,000 each.<\/p>\n
Arrangements for both the Europa League showpiece on May 29 and the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham have been heavily criticized.<\/p>\n
Managers Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino have joined forces with supporters\u2019 clubs to condemn profiteering and ticket issues ahead of their match in Madrid on June 1.<\/p>\n
Fans are dismayed at only 16,613 tickets being allotted to each club, while the rocketing cost of attending the match on account of increased air fares and hotel rates has also provoked anger.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement issued by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters\u2019 Trust and Spirit of Shankly, calls have been made for a cap on ticket pricing, transparency over allocation and consumer protection measures to be introduced to stop prices being forced up.<\/p>\n
Klopp became the first manager to voice his concern by objecting to the opportunism of the travel industry, while rounding on UEFA for their selection of Baku as the host city for the Europa League final.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese decisions, they must be much more sensible. It just looks irresponsible,\u201d the Liverpool boss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA solution maybe, in the cities who get the final, maybe they have to make a price cut? I heard a room that is normally \u00a3100 is now \u00a32,700? Just crazy!<\/p>\n
\u201cMadrid is unbelievably expensive but who decides Baku for a European final? Or Kiev? I don\u2019t know what the people who decide these things have for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baku\u2019s Olympic Stadium has an official capacity of 64,000 and UEFA said in a statement: \u201cBased on UEFA\u2019s recent experience with UEFA Europa League finals and the UEFA Super Cup in comparable venues, the number of finalists\u2019 supporters requesting tickets for a UEFA Europa League final can vary greatly from club to club.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, it is impossible to predict in advance which clubs will reach the final, while the venue has to be chosen around two years in advance.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking into consideration the above and, most importantly, the geographical location and logistical capacity of airports in and around the host city, it was deemed that around 15,000 spectators would be able to travel from abroad.<\/p>\n
\u201cOffering more tickets to fans of the participating teams, without any guarantee that they would be able to arrange suitable travel to reach Baku, was therefore not a responsible option.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on these circumstances, for this year\u2019s UEFA Europa League final in Baku, 6,000 tickets have been made available to each of the finalists.<\/p>\n
\u201cUEFA remains in close contact with the finalists regarding the travel arrangements of their supporters and any other operational aspects with regards to the final.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pochettino experienced the rising prices first-hand when he attempted to book travel to Madrid in the hope that friends and family would be able to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started to talk with the club today (Friday) to organize and see how it is going to work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday I was calling some hotels to try and book some rooms because I don\u2019t know if my family and some people from Argentina are going to be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to book and it was so difficult and the prices are so crazy. I am very surprised but it is normal that people take advantage of this type of opportunity to make benefit. It is going to be very, very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
The supporters\u2019 clubs are dismayed by what they view as exploitation of fans\u2019 determination to attend the Champions League showpiece.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur joy at reaching the final is tempered by the prices of travel, accommodation and tickets, and by the allocation of tickets,\u201d their joint statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrices of flights to Madrid and surrounding towns have rocketed by up to 840 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cHotel rooms are over \u00a31,000 a night and we are hearing stories of room bookings being cancelled and resold at vastly inflated rates.<\/p>\n
\u201cTicket prices of in excess of \u00a3500 are also extortionate. And there needs to be transparency from UEFA and our clubs in how tickets are priced and allocated.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many fans, this final is not a one-off event. It is the culmination of a journey. It is time to stop cashing in on fan loyalty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal Supporters\u2019 Trust backed this stance. The Gunners have already insisted they are working with UEFA to gain a larger percentage of seats to add to the \u201cdisappointing ticket allocation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an excellent statement by Spirit of Shankly. AST backs every word,\u201d the Arsenal Supporters\u2019 Trust said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working with them and all supporters\u2019 groups to fight the disgraceful way that UEFA treats supporters. Not just at finals but at every stage. The 6pm kick-off just another example.\u201d<\/p>\n