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Wolves to play in front of thousands of 'banned' fans in Europa League clash

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA - SEPTEMBER 19 : Players of Slovan Bratislava celebrate after a goal during the UEFA Europa League Group K football match between Slovan Bratislava and Besiktas in Bratislava, Slovakia on September 19, 2019.  (Photo by Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The match could now have a capacity crowd. (Credit: Getty Images)

Slovan Bratislava’s match with Wolverhampton Wanderers is set to be played “behind closed doors” after the Slovakian club were punished for racist chants and banners in a previous game.

A UEFA loophole, however, has allowed the club to invite more than 21,000 supporters to their Europa League clash with the Premier League side.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men travel to Slovan Bratislava on October 24 in Group K, with their hosts currently serving a punishment for racism from a group of fans against Greek opponents PAOK in August.

But Wolves, instead of playing their opponents in an empty stadium, will find it packed after the Slovak Super Liga side were allowed to give those tickets away to local clubs and schools.

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Two hundred away fans with ‘category one’ tickets will be allowed into the New Slovakian National Stadium under UEFA’s Article 73, but the same regulation does not limit the amount of tickets which can be donated for free to children under 14.

And the club, who currently lie top of the group, posted on their website encouraging applications for the tickets.

They also state one adult can be permitted for every ten children, meaning Wolves fans will find themselves surprisingly outnumbered at the 22,500-capacity stadium.

Besiktas Adem Ljajič, center, battles Slovan Bratislava Vasil Bozikov, right bottom and Myenty Abena  during a  Europa League group K soccer match between Slovan Bratislava and Besiktas Brick Field in Bratislava, Slovakia, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (Pavel Neubauer/TASR via AP)
Almost 6,000 children attended the first match of the 'stadium ban'. (Pavel Neubauer/TASR via AP)

European football’s governing body ruled in August that they must play two Europa League matches behind closed doors following the scenes in their play-off match against PAOK.

It took them until October 9 to dismiss an appeal by the Slovakian club, meaning it now includes the Wolves match. They were also fined approximately £80,000 for the behaviour, as well as a lack of organisation at the match.

It will be the second time the club have resorted to such measures after almost 6,000 children spurred them on to a 4-2 victory against Besiktas in September.

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