West Ham fans were banned from travelling to Freiburg for the group stage away game and this time they may not be able to get there.
The West Ham faithful have travelled all across Europe following their team over the last three years.
Everywhere except Freiburg that is.
West Ham fans were banned from attending the Europa League group stage away game against Freiburg by UEFA.
That was after a minority caused disruption during the Europa Conference League final triumph against Fiorentina.
New threat to West Ham fan power for Freiburg
Freiburg supporters actually unfurled a banner criticising UEFA about the West Ham fan ban during the group stage game.
The hosts showed solidarity with West Ham as they displayed a huge banner the width of one of the stands behind the goal.
West Ham drew the Germans again in the last 16 – which is set to be played over two legs in the next week.
The first leg is in Germany on Thursday night.
But after the UEFA ban West Ham now face a new ‘nightmare’ in Freiburg over fans.
Hammers supporters face ‘nightmare’ to attend last 16 clash
Because away supporters were not permitted to travel to Germany for the previous clash.
Now they may struggle to get there even though they are allowed to attend.
According to The Evening Standard, West Ham fans are facing travel chaos in Germany as train and airport strikes threaten to make a nightmare of the trip to Freiburg.
Hammers fans a fiercely loyal, committed and resourceful bunch.
But travel to this game will test that to the fullest it seems.
“With few direct flights between London and Freiburg, the most popular routes for supporters involve flying to the larger travel hubs of Frankfurt and Basel, from where passengers can pick up train connections,” The Evening Standard reports.
“However, a number of flights have already been cancelled as a result of planned industrial action by Lufthansa ground staff, with the German airline warning of “extensive effects on the flight program” from Wednesday evening until Saturday morning. According to German news agency DPA, around 1,000 flights are set to be axed on each of Thursday and Friday.”
Taking Over Land And Sea to new levels
To make matters worse still, the paper reports that the German train drivers’ union will stage the latest in a series of strikes across Thursday and Friday.
“Millions of travellers are expected to be impacted across the country, meaning fans whose return flights are still scheduled to go ahead may face a struggle to reach their respective airports from Freiburg,” the report adds.
If you are among West Ham fans making the trip then best of luck and great credit to you all.
This really will take Over Land And Sea to new levels.
Coupled with the diminished “home advantage” due to the ridiculous 5.45pm kick-off time for the second leg at the London Stadium, West Ham fans are really being put through the mill for this tie.
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