UEFA decision saw thousands of London Stadium seats unsold for West Ham’s crunch Europa League tie against Freiburg.
West Ham welcome Freiburg to the London Stadium for their Europa League last 16 second leg on Thursday.
The Hammers must overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to make the quarter-finals.
David Moyes’ side were rewarded for topping their group with home advantage for the second leg.
West Ham have proved how crucial that is in the past. The Hammers came from 1-0 down against Sevilla in the last 16 two years ago to make the quarters.
And they’ll have to do the same again when the Germans come to the London Stadium on Thursday.
This time, though – as fans will be well aware – West Ham have been handed the reviled 5.45pm kick-off slot.
I have explained the reason for that decision on Hammers News previously.
Hammers supporters are furious at the decision. It means thousands of fans are expected to take time off work in the middle of the week and battle peak rush hour to get to the London Stadium in time for the early kick-off.
That’s before having to negotiate the long queues for security checks at the ground.
That so-called “home advantage” had been seriously diminished as a result.
Now the number of tickets left for West Ham’s crunch Europa League tie is revealed after that UEFA call as fans rally.
At the time of writing, there are 12,878 tickets unsold for the big second leg against Freiburg.
That would mean an attendance of 49,622 as things stand.
But fans are rallying.
After the fightback vs Burnley, the manager, players such as Vladimir Coufal and many fans on social media have urged supporters to summon the spirit of Sevilla for Thursday.
That has seen a spike in uptake for unsold tickets.
With many tickets priced from £15 and the huge importance of the match, West Ham fans are expected to continue to snap up the majority – if not all – remaining tickets.
That’s despite UEFA’s ridiculous call to hand the Hammers the 5.45pm slot in order to show Liverpool at 8pm.
Currently there is availability in almost all sections of the London Stadium except behind the goals and in sections 105-110 plus 112.
The team needs the fans more than ever on Thursday. And West Ham supporters have always been at their very best when our backs are to the wall or in times of adversity.
Supporters looking to be there for the game can view and purchase tickets on the club’s official website.
West Ham’s potential Europa League quarter-final opponents are much clearer.
But let’s get there first.
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