UEFA admit Europa League final stadium capacities will need to be reviewed after Basel
Wednesday 18 May 2016 21:36, UK
UEFA's interim general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has admitted stadium capacities for future Europa League finals will need to be reviewed after thousands of Liverpool supporters arrived in Basel without tickets for Wednesday's final.
Jurgen Klopp's side take on back-to-back Europa League winners, Sevilla, at St Jakob-Park and security in the Swiss City has had to be greatly increased, with tens of thousands of Reds fans descending on the city to try and get a ticket.
An estimated 26,000 Reds fans are expected to be in the Swiss city but Liverpool have an allocation of just 10,600 for the 35,000-capacity stadium, and fans have been warned not to buy tickets on the black market.
Speaking at the UEFA executive committee meeting on the day of the match, Theodoridis said one instance of insufficient capacity was not enough to change policy, but he said the governing body will look into the problems surrounding a final that is being staged at the lowest capacity stadium in the last 10 years.
He said: "Judging by the result and outcome, of course we would all be far happier if the stadium was bigger, but in past this was not case in any of the recent finals.
"It is very difficult, when you take a decision, to speculate which clubs will participate (in the final). You have to look at the past and make appropriate decisions.
"So of course it will be assessed and tonight will be a factor, which is something that is happening for the first time in this competition's final.
"We only wish that the success of this competition means we have to go to similar capacity to the Champions League (final).
"One is not enough for a decision but of course it will be considered and we will review this. I only hope tonight goes well and we will have a beautiful final."
