Hammered: West Ham fans banned from Europa League travel by UEFA

West Ham fans

November 16 – Fans of English Premier League club West Ham United have been banned by UEFA from attending their Europa League clash away to Rapid Vienna following crowd trouble during a previous fixture at Genk earlier this month.

UEFA have told the club not to sell tickets and have also fined them €34,500 following the 2-2 draw in Belgium on November 4.

According to a statement from UEFA, the ticket ban and a fine were imposed for “crowd disturbances”. An additional €4,500 fine was handed down for the “throwing of objects” by travelling fans.

West Ham’s official website says their full allocation of 1,700 tickets for the visit to the Allianz Stadion in the Austrian capital have already sold out but these fans will now have to stay at home.

West Ham and Rapid Vienna were each fined €60,000 by UEFA for similar disturbances after their fixture at the London Stadium in September. Following that incident, the Austrian side were also banned from having fans travel to their next away European fixture.

West Ham currently sit top of Group H with 10 points from four games and the club reacted by saying they were “surprised” by UEFA’s decision and that they are urgently seeking clarification from European football’s governing body.

“We are surprised to receive these sanctions and disappointed for the fans who have behaved impeccably and supported the team throughout and will now be unable to travel to the next away Europa League fixture,” West Ham said in a statement .

“The club has requested the full written reasons from UEFA regarding these sanctions and have asked them to expedite our request given that further delay could impact supporters once again.”

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