Bayern Munich fans show solidarity with West Ham United after recent UEFA decision
Bayern Munich fans displayed a banner in their Champions League clash with Manchester United, criticising UEFA for their decision to ban West Ham fans from their first away game of this season’s Europa League campaign.
The banner, which was shared on Twitter by Football Away Days, claimed that without away fans, there is no way for football, in a show of solidarity with fans of the Hammers, as well as Benfica and others who have faced similar bans.
UEFA’s decision to prevent Hammers fans from attending the clash with Freiburg in Germany was a result of crowd trouble in the Europa Conference League final, which saw Cristiano Biraghi struck by a missile [talkSPORT, 21 June].
The banner, which was shared on Twitter by Football Away Days [20 September], read: “UEFA’s wish-wash about the ‘lifeblood of the game’ is once again bubbling away for West Ham, Benfica and all others.
“No away fans – no way for football.”
Solidarity is necessary
The banner, and the mention of West Ham, were a surprising but impressive touch from the Bayern Munich fans. It is important for fans all to stick together in times of division, where it can often feel like the people running the game lack any compassion for the match-going public.
The “lifeblood of the game” quote comes directly from the mouths of UEFA officials, with their official website claiming to support all football fans, through the Football Supporters Europe group, established by UEFA, supposedly heading communications between the fans and the governing body.
Once again, the “us against them” mentality will be adopted by fans who, once again, have found themselves suffering at the hands of the governing bodies of the game. Fans of Bayern will be aware that the same could happen to them.
As the banner states, there is no football without fans, and the contempt and dismissal towards them on any possible occasion is a further display that the biggest organisations in football are very much all talk, no action when it comes to supporting and backing the fans.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers must make a move for an 18-year-old star linked with Barcelona.