West Ham United's most closely linked website Claret & Hugh, were well placed enough to be told directly that the UEFA imposed ban on travelling fans was in fact a correctly reached decision, despite the inconvenience and financial loss hundreds of fans will face.
Hammers had written to Uefa seeking reasons for the ban and what they could do about the situation but were emphatically informed that the penalties would stand irrespective of any actions taken by the club to facilitate a change of decision.
The club were told that the reason lies with 150 supporters who stormed the gates at Genk and forced stewards to open them. UEFA have made it clear that they intend to enforce the ban and it is now the case that if such trouble continues in the future all away support will be banned, possibly indefinitely!
Fans were enraged by UEFA's decision seeing it as a bias against the club, but unfortunately it is the club's OWN fans who have brought the club into disrepute. Not only have they ruined the plans of hundreds of 'real fans', costing many a lot of money, but they have now made a rod that can be used on the club's back JUST as there are genuine opportunities for fans to follow the club abroad for the first time in a generation!
There are usually two sides to every story, unfortunately the club Genk's CCTV that UEFA used clearly shows Hammers fans were at fault and had mounted a sustained 'reign of terror' against the stewards before finally forcing their way into the ground.
Repetitions of what England fans did at Wembley during the European Finals against Italy are viewed as extremely troubling by those who run UEFA, the selfish 150 have done lasting damage and threaten to derail the future plans of so many fans.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill paradoxically, "Never have so many been so messed up by so few", well done the 150, NOT! - Ed
Comments
What can I say?
Whilst this jaunt into Europe was a unique and once in a lifetime experience for so many of our supporters, we also realise that English teams regularly play in Europe WITHOUT incident.
The name West Ham is still synonymous with fighting and hooliganism to many across Europe... . On top of that, we have a minority of supposed supporters who feel that they need to live up to that reputation of the '70s and the '80s... in 2021. These idiots have embarrassed and humiliated us, ruined the dreams of so many TRUE supporters and their moronic actions have effectively put a noose around the club's neck.