West Ham and Liverpool have been handed different kick-off times for their potentially crucial Europa League last 16 home legs.
West Ham have drawn familiar foes Freiburg in the Europa League last 16 having beaten them twice in the group stage.
Meanwhile, the Hammers’ Premier League rivals Liverpool have been drawn against Czech league leaders Sparta Prague.
I reported yesterday that the Liverpool draw gives West Ham co-owner Daniel Kretinsky a very awkward dilemma.
As group winners, West Ham and Liverpool get home advantage for the second leg. And because Kretinsky also owns Sparta Prague, he now faces a quandary over which game to attend.
Forget Kretinsky now it’s awkward for Hammers fans
Since highlighting that situation yesterday, it has been announced that West Ham’s game will kick off at 5.45pm on Thursday March 14th.
Liverpool will kick-off at 8pm.
So forget Kretinsky because that has now created an awkward situation for 60,000 West Ham fans.
Hammers supporters are furious at the decision. It means thousands of fans are expected to take time off work in the middle of the working week to get to the London Stadium in time for the early kick-off.
No shock Liverpool take priority over West Ham
It’s no big revelation that sycophantic broadcast companies favour the so-called “Big Six” and European elite teams.
But it is no less infuriating that West Ham have been relegated to the awful 5.45pm slot so TNT Sports can show darlings Liverpool at 8pm.
It is fact – as confirmed previously by UEFA and reported on in depth by the football media since the draw and when the new staggered kick-off times were first introduced – that the differing kick-off times are down to, as with most things in modern football, broadcasting.
In 2018 the 5.45pm and 8pm kick-off slots were introduced. The earlier and later kick-off times – the original slots were 7.45pm as standard – are to prevent more games over-lapping and allow viewers to see more games each UEFA match day without having to compromise.
There is a clear football food chain and pecking order for the TV companies. And West Ham are clearly below Liverpool in that respect.
UEFA staggered kick-offs for broadcasters simply not fair
TNT Sports has a particular preference for screening Liverpool games. Just ask Jurgen Klopp who reacted furiously when they gave his side a fifth 12.30pm kick-off of the season back in December.
TNT even has its own dedicated web section explaining how fans can watch Liverpool matches on its channels. West Ham do not have a like-for-like section.
This isn’t Liverpool’s fault of course. Or West Ham’s for that matter. And Liverpool are clearly the bigger club which generates wider interest. But that doesn’t make UEFA’s staggered kick-off times for broadcast purposes right. And it only reinforces opinion among fans that there is a media bias towards the “Big Six” – a term the likes of Sky Sports and other broadcasters created and perpetuate.
Rangers have also been handed the reviled 5.45pm kick-off slot and – like West Ham fans – are up in arms about it.
It’s very simple, broadcasters are the reason UEFA staggers kick-off times. So hopefully that explains the reason behind the 5.45pm decision for West Ham fans struggling to get their head around it.
And the fact is West Ham sit below Liverpool in the pecking order for the plum 8pm slot.
The 5.45pm kick-off also seriously diminishes the fan element of home advantage as clubs are left with a stadium full of sober, miffed supporters who have had to take time off work to try and get to a game during rush hour.
UEFA simply must revisit this ridiculous format to make it fairer for all.
READ ALSO
Freiburg’s form since West Ham beat them in Europa League group stage
Kretinsky has new dilemma after personally awkward Europa League draw
Zouma finally breaks silence but it will likely just anger fans more
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
