Teh European Football Union (UEFA) has shut down Eintracht Frankfurt’s plea to relocate their Champions League clash against SSC Napoli to a neutral venue, or even play it behind closed doors. This decision comes in the wake of an official ban on Frankfurt supporters attending the match in Italy. Eintracht announced the news on Friday, confirming the game will proceed as scheduled on November 4th in Naples, sans any traveling SGE fans.
This isn’t the first time these two clubs have been involved in controversy. Their last encounter in 2023 saw important unrest in Naples, with clashes reported between unruly elements from both fan bases. The current situation stems from a decree issued by the local prefecture on September 22nd, which prohibited SSC Napoli from selling the five percent ticket allocation (approximately 2,500 tickets) typically reserved for visiting clubs under UEFA regulations.Philipp Reschke, who handles fan matters for Eintracht, voiced his concerns, stating, The fully different way the participating countries and national associations deal with high-risk games at their respective locations is now leading to a real problem for European fan culture.
he highlighted that in the past two years alone, 15 European matches have been played without any away supporters. The Eintracht board views this trend as a serious threat to the integrity of European club competitions, akin to how American sports leagues grapple with ensuring fair play across different states with varying regulations.
Reschke also revealed that UEFA has acknowledged the growing issue, confirming they are working intensively on adapting the regulations
in response to the increasing practice of fan exclusions. He anticipates that very few Eintracht fans will make the trip to Naples,adding,I am convinced that a number like 2023 will not set off again.
This suggests a significant drop from previous fan attendance figures, underscoring the impact of these restrictions on the vibrant atmosphere of European football.
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