
West Ham are at serious risk
By Sean Whetstone
West Ham are at serious risk of an enforced second away fan ban in Europe if there is any trouble on Thursday night from their supporters in Greece on Thursday evening.
The Hammers were issued with a £50,000 fine and a European ban for their first two fixtures away from home by UEFA, with the second away game suspended, due to the behaviour of a minority of West Ham supporters during May’s UEFA Europa Conference League Final.
That first ban was served against SC Freiburg, but any trouble this week could see West Ham fans banned from the TSC Bačka Topola away game in November.
The tough stance against West Ham comes even though AZ Alkmaar escaped the wrath of UEFA and were given a paltry fine for the madness in the semi-final.
AZ paid just £68,670 (€80,000) in fines, which has been broken down into a series of punishments.
The fines were: £6,115 for throwing objects, £12,870 for lighting fireworks, £6,867 for blocking public passageways and £42,918 for crowd disturbances and failure to ensure that spectators cannot move from one sector to another.
AZ have also been ordered to play one European game behind closed doors – though this has been given a suspended for two years.