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For the sake of football fans everywhere the cup final venues should be restricted to stadiums within easy reach and within a country with a high ranking league.
England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland
I would imagine that the decision to hold last night's final in Baku was the result of considerable financial pressure from an oil rich nation.
https://www.theguardian.com/football...helsea-arsenal
Baku is within easy reach of many UEFA Countries, just not the far western ones.
Not within easy reach of those countries that provide the finalists.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
No one knew who the finalists would be when the allocation of the Final venue was made. Are we now suggesting that only FA's that may provide finalists should be given the opportunity to host a UEFA final? Since 1956 we've had the final of the Europe Champions League (including the European Cup) in the following countries - Italy 9 times; England 8 times; Spain 7 times; France 5 times; Germany 5 times; Austria 4 times; Belgium 4 times; Netherlands 4 times; Greece 3 times; Scotland 3 times; Portugal twice; Russia once; Wales once; Switzerland once; Ukraine once; Turkey once, with one more this season in Spain and one more next season in Turkey. It seems the Western UEFA members are getting the lion's share of the opportunity of hosting this prestigious cup final.Quote:
Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird
I can't find a lsit of venues for the Europa League Final but I suspect the pattern to be the same.
All members of UEFA are allowed to bid for these finals, and I see no problem with UEFA sharing them out - in fact they should be sahring them out a bit more than they have done in the past. I'm looking forward to Kazakhstan getting one soon. (Although I'd prefer to see Wales have them in a qualifying group for the Euros or WC first)
You can guarantee that Arsenal and Chelsea would've sold their 6k allocation two or three times over had it been a CL final. As it was Europa, it was easy for them to turn their nose up at it and not get a connecting flight via a night in Istanbul or Georgia.
Someone on the radio had it right when he said Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle fans would've walked there to make that.
Does that mean it isn't an issue though?Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBluebird
Can't disagree with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBluebird
Why is it an issue for Chelsea and Arsenal but wouldn't be for a multitude of other clubs? Are Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle fans a bit more special than Arsenal and Chelsea fans?Quote:
Originally Posted by Croesy Blue
It's far from ideal but by all accounts Baku is a lovely city. I just think people went overboard in slating it personally.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croesy Blue
I agree other fans would find the distance less of an issue but I'm saying having a final so far away and in a city with no real football herritage just because it's oil rich isn't an ideal situation. Just because the fans of clubs who have fewer cup finals would attend in droves doesn't mean it's an ideal situation does it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
The country has only existed for less than 30 years. Even then one of their stadiums is named after one of the linesmen of the 1966 World Cup Final who was a local (The one who said "that" goal was a goal). So, apart from that, they haven't really had much time to develop a "real football heritage". The distance of travel is immaterial, every club that enters the competition knows that the venue could be anywhere in the UEFA area. The competition is already loaded towards the richer Associations, its about time some of the smaller Associations were given the opportunity. Personally, I don't see the problem. If Cardiff City were in one of the finals, I would drop everything to be there, much like many of us did when Wales were in the Euros in France.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croesy Blue
Baku is a fantastic City, rich in history and culture, and with some of the most beautiful women I've ever seen! It has changed drastically over the years, the 1st time I was there, all the taxis were battered Ladas, the 2nd time we went, they were all Mercs. The hotel we stayed in both times has been demolished in favour of some very high class hotels as well now.Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBluebird
Good points :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
But when one of the players is banned due to his nationality is it really an ideal location?
That, I will agree with. :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Croesy Blue
Although I thought he made the decision himself rather than being banned.
Sounds similar to what I've heard from everyone else. Hoping to get out there in November but with Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia it might be a stretch too far.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
I'd say he made the right decision based on how unsafe it is for Armenians, even people with his name on their shirts were getting grief.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
Same with us if we were ever in that position.Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBluebird
So many of us would spend months talking about the various ways we got over there.
Disagree with the big league argument as it would mean Cardiff would never have held it, but the fact that Armenians aren't allowed in the country should mean they couldn't. UEFA know this based on the draws for the Euros mentioning it everytime. I also thought Cardiff were stopped from holding it previously based on transport links being insufficient.
What I will say though is that if Liverpool, Man Utd, Celtic or Rangers were in that final yesterday they would have all taken 50k or so fans.
When I visited two years ago I found the place rather depressing in that the wealth didn't seem to trickle down and the contrast between rich and poor seemed to be enormous. Beyond the wondrous metro system there were women looking poor as church mice transporting their wares in beaten up old prams. Arriving overland into Georgia the situation seemed less extreme. Just my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
It's ironic that someone one here stated that Azerbaijan is fairly accessible as, if I remember rightly, most of its border is closed due to disputes with Armenia and Iran.
Oh, and not many cartographers consider Azerbaijan to be in Europe.
My AirBnB in Baku was perhaps a bit less salubrious than your hotel.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
Attachment 3092
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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
Yeah, as if you know anything about cartography.. pft!
That airbnb is great :hehe:
Sounds like the UK.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
Azerbaijan isn't in Europe, but neither are about 5 other countries that compete in UEFA competitions.
As for ease of travel, I had no problem on the both ocassions I went there. UK - Turkey - Azerbaijan.
Most of the complaints about the location seem to be coming from the usual shouty sweary radio phone in presenters who think the universe revolves around dear old Blighty and Johnny Foreigner has no right to a piace of the pie.
Don't have pics, but that is about the state of our hotel. That's probably why it was demolished.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
Why don’t they play it in China or Japan, make it a lot easier for most of the local fans of the big clubs to get there :hehe::hehe:
Shhhh. Don't tell my employer! :hehe:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rock_Flock_of_Five
Do you read, listen or watch any media outlets run by Johnny Foreigners themselves and whereby they state reservations about the location and its relative inaccessibility for such a final? I read the German press and watch German media and similar comments can be found in contributions from those sources. No doubt, such comments may be echoed in other countries but I can't be bothered searching. It's therefore ironic that you are accusing others of being small-minded, parochial and xenophobic whilst.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
The decision to let Cardiff host the Champions League final would have had nothing to do with Cardiff City FC.Quote:
Originally Posted by ken smith
There was a restriction of 6000 tickets per club.
The opinion that it is a lovely city is irrelevant for the majority of fans who simply want to travel to watch a game.Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBluebird
Some may want to make a short holiday of it but others may be only able to get a couple of days off work.
Unsure whether such a decision would be wise.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
Why should supporters of the finalists have to travel large distances at great cost to themselves and the planet.
Climate change should be a major consideration.
Western European venues would considerably reduce the carbon footprint.
But that's incredibly arrogant. The problem was not going to eastern Europe and only part of the problem was limited travel options to get there, the real issue was the fans were left to the mercy of extortionate travel costs (couldn't the billionaires who own Arsenal and Chelsea support their fans more?) and when they got there were miles away from the pitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird
UEFA trying to spread the game around Europe should be supported but it just didn't work this time.
Strange combination use of words in the OP's post title ( Sense and UEFA)
No idea what the blue reply means sorry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird
Red, the teams mentioned would still have taken thousands and thousands, tickets or not.
This thread appears to have degenerated into an exchange that I’m sure the OP didn’t intend
Marvelous and right in keeping with the standards we deserve and have come to expect on this MB
Keep up the good work please
I wouldn't say Baku was in EASY reach of many UEFA countries at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
I think a little clarity regarding this Armenian player is needed. He was/is not banned from going to Baku as a member of a foofball club.Quote:
Originally Posted by Croesy Blue
In 2015 Baku hosted the European games and Armenia sent a team which encountered no problems except a little booing.
Wrestling is the biggest national sport in both countries. An Armenian won one of the disciplines beating an Azeri in the final. He was awarded his gold medal by the Azerbaijan president who, when the crowd boo'd, told them to stop and to applaud a fine sportsman. He congratulated and 'embraced' the winner just as he had every other medalist he met.
So I would suggest that this players non-attendance was probably really his personal choice out of his own expectations of what might happen. I really do not believe Azerbaijan barred him.
That's as maybe, but I've travelled there twice for football, stayed about 4 days each time and had NO travel issues whatsoever. Flight from UK - Turkey - Azerbaijan, completed in less than 12 hours. If changing a flight in a different country constitutes making a destination not within easy reach, then you're right, it's not within easy reach.Quote:
Originally Posted by xsnaggle
I travelled to Detroit last year, UK-NL-USA. Flying to the USA is not easy...........
Most of the complaints about the location seem to be coming from the usual shouty sweary radio phone in presenters who think the universe revolves around rich wetern european countries and no one else has the right to a piece of the pie.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie
Fixed it for you. My point remains the same. The rich, greedy FA's want it all, and everyone else is just there to make up the numbers.
you can fly to Baku direct from heathrow. There are 3 or 4 flights regularly every week. more than enough for normal travel needs. It is when there is something 'going on' that it becomes more difficult to get a seat. But that is the same for any non capital/tourist city I expect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk
So now it's the rich foorball associations that are the problem and not fans in most countries travelling to the host venue.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Monk