By Daily Sports on May 18, 2019
Uefa have defended their decision to stage the Europa League final in Baku following a letter from finalists Arsenal, who sought an explanation from European soccer's governing body because of the inconvenience caused to their travelling fans.
Arsenal face Chelsea at Azerbaijan's Baku Olympic Stadium on May 29 with supporters struggling to secure flights for the near 6,000-mile round trip as well as accommodation ahead of the club's first European final in 13 years.
"Uefa has committed to appoint hosts only via a fair and transparent bidding process where the candidates have to provide evidence of their ability to stage the event on the basis of a number of criteria," Uefa competitions director Giorgio Marchetti said in a statement.
"The bidding process for a club competition final is held a couple of years in advance, meaning that the exact circumstances in which the final will have to be organised cannot be known at the time of the appointment."
Uefa said an all-English final played by two London teams was not a predictable event at the time when the venue was decided and promised to work with both clubs to assist fans.
"There is little doubt that this has added significant difficulties to the event logistics," the statement added.
"We're really sorry for the problems your (and Chelsea's) fans are encountering trying to organise their journey to Baku. Our experts are keenly working on this matter with a view to help find cheaper solutions for travelling fans." (Goal)
Source Daily Sports
Posted May 18, 2019
You may also like...
Celtic out of Champions league after 2-3 aggregate...
Messi Joins Elite Crowd With PSG Goal Vs...
Salah Breaks Another Liverpool Record
Caf President Released In France Without Charge -...
Zambian heat won't lower Eagles confidence
Iwobi sidelined for four weeks

Musa dents Rivers title hopes as Rangers go top
Nwabali linked with Kaizer Chiefs, Simba SC
New winners emerge at Osun national table tennis tourney
Ex-int’l Disu optimistic ahead SAMDA U-13 tourney
Edun convenes emergency meeting over NBF, NBBofC crisis
Usyk backs Joshua to defeat Fury
FIBA seeds D’Tigress in pot 2 for World Cup draw
Global interest peaks ahead of Okpekpe 10km race
AFN open to Ofili’s return after failed Turkey switch
Junior Aruna wins WTT Youth Contender France silver
Sporting Lagos secure NPFL return
Lookman powers Atletico into UCL semi-final
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,711 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,039 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,959 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,557 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,485 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,389 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,242 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,787 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,976 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,484 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,896 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,362 views)