It’s official West Ham United fans will be going over land and sea after UEFA lifted the blanket ban on away fans at European club matches.
West Ham fans were waiting to learn whether they will be able to travel to Europa League away games last Friday.
The Hammers are in the Europa League group stages for the first time after a superb season ended in a sixth place finish last term.
But Hammers fans faced not being able to fully enjoy the club’s European tour after UEFA announced recently that its ban on away fans was to remain in place until it was reviewed on Friday (September 1st).
The governing body has been under pressure to allow away supporters to attend fixtures in European club competitions this season by removing its blanket ban.
West Ham’s Premier League rivals Manchester United and the likes of Ajax have urged UEFA to reconsider ahead of their Champions League campaigns.
And now it has been confirmed by the group Football Supporters Europe that UEFA will lift the ban, meaning West Ham supporters can – as things stand – attend games against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, Rapid Wien in Austria and Genk in Belgium.
“CONFIRMED: Return of away fans at UEFA club competitions,” FSE posted on Twitter.
“FSE can confirm that away fans will be permitted to attend European club competitions matches from next week.
“Local restrictions and travel requirement might still apply.”
First up for West Ham is Dinamo in Zargreb next Thursday September 16th.
It is great news for West Ham fans who were denied the chance to watch the Hammers in Europe when English clubs were banned from competing in the 1980s.
The decision is a pleasant surprise for West Ham fans as it had seemed unlikely UEFA would allow away fans given they had decided to ban national team away support from attending games for the current international break.
West Ham boss David Moyes will be delighted as he recently said he hoped UEFA would allow the claret and blue army at the away fixtures.
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