Wolves to play in front of thousands of 'banned' fans in Europa League clash
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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👲🇸🇰💙 Na zápase @EuropaLeague ŠK Slovan - @Wolves bude prítomných viac ako 21 000 detí z celého Slovenska. Zaplnené bude celé Tehelné pole. pic.twitter.com/ggq6BH25Sl
— ŠK Slovan Bratislava (@SKSlovan) October 18, 2019
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.
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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