West Ham supporters have been hit with restrictions on their travel to Freiburg for their upcoming away match in the group stage, marking another potential setback in their European journey.
Over the past three years, West Ham’s loyal fans have followed their team across the continent, with the exception of Freiburg. This is due to a UEFA ban on their attendance at the Europa League group stage away game against Freiburg, a consequence of disturbances caused by a few during their Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina.
Adding a twist to the narrative, Freiburg fans expressed their disapproval of the ban by unveiling a large banner at the group stage game, showing solidarity with the visiting supporters.
As fate would have it, West Ham is set to face the German team once more in the round of 16, with the first of the two-legged tie happening in Germany. Despite the lifting of the ban, West Ham fans now confront a new challenge that jeopardizes their attendance.
Dubbed a ‘nightmare’ situation, the journey to Freiburg is fraught with potential travel disruptions due to strikes affecting trains and airports in Germany. The Evening Standard has highlighted the predicament of West Ham fans, who, despite their unwavering support, might find this trip particularly challenging.
With limited direct flights from London to Freiburg, many fans planned to fly into larger hubs like Frankfurt and Basel, only to find themselves caught in the midst of planned strikes by Lufthansa ground staff and German train drivers. These strikes are expected to cause significant cancellations and disruptions from Wednesday to Saturday, affecting around 1,000 flights on both Thursday and Friday alone.
The situation is compounded by the train drivers’ union strike, adding to the logistical nightmares for fans attempting to navigate their way from various German cities back to their departure points.
For those West Ham fans determined to make the journey, it’s an admirable testament to their dedication, pushing the limits of their motto, Over Land And Sea, to new extremes. Their efforts come amid concerns over the early 5.45pm kickoff for the second leg at the London Stadium, further challenging the notion of home advantage in this critical tie.
