West Ham get a Europa League boost as Austria enters a full lockdown to halt their Covid surge… meaning their game at Rapid Vienna is now set to be held behind closed doors – after away fans were already banned!
- Austria has imposed a full nationwide lockdown after a rapid rise in Covid cases
- West Ham fans had been banned from their side’s game at Rapid Vienna
- But after the latest measures, the home side won’t have fans present either
- UEFA said the game will count as West Ham’s suspension and not carried over
West Ham’s Europa League trip to Rapid Vienna on Thursday will go ahead behind closed doors after Austria went into lockdown on Friday.
The ban on Hammers supporters will not be transferred to their next away game in the knockout stages, however, with UEFA saying this tie will still count as them serving their suspension.
West Ham were informed last week that they could not take fans to Vienna as punishment after ticketless fans forced their way into their last Europa tie in Genk.
Hammers fans may not feel so bitter about being banned from attending the match in Vienna now home fans now won’t be in the stadium either. UEFA barred the Hammers faithful following the crowd trouble against Belgian side Genk this month, in addition to a fine of 34,500 euros (£29,260).
Rapid Vienna’s clash against West Ham will be played without fans next week after the country was plunged back into a national lockdown due to rising Covid cases
Hammers supporters had been banned for the game after a small minority caused crowd trouble during the away match at Genk earlier this month
But with Austria now imposing a full nationwide lockdown due to a worsening Covid situation, West Ham’s game in Vienna will now be played behind closed doors, so neither side will have an advantage for the game next week.
The situation in Austria has spiraled with the government forcing vaccinations to become mandatory to cope with a steep rise in cases. It reported 15,809 cases on Friday – a new one-day record.
Austria currently has one of the highest Covid infection rates in western Europe which has been blamed on its sluggish vaccination drive, with just 66 per cent of people fully jabbed. That is above the European average of 62 per cent, but well below the 70 per cent theoretically needed for herd immunity.
Sportsmail understands that the game will still go ahead, but after conversations with UEFA, the organisation has told West Ham that the fans’ suspension would not be carried over to another game with fans in attendance.
West Ham said it relunctantly accepted sanctions and the punishment will not be deferred to another game that will have fans in attendance
That could have seen West Ham forced to play without fans for a Round of 16 tie, but will be relieved to hear the punishment will not be deferred.
West Ham had requested clarity from Europe’s sanctioning body after they were banned from selling away tickets, and were provided with evidence of a ‘small number’ of ticketless Hammers fans causing disturbances after illegally gaining entrance to the stadium for the 2-2 draw in Belgium.
West Ham said it had reluctantly accepted the sanctions after the large majority of fans had behaved ‘impeccably’ in Belgium.
It said in a statement this week: ‘West Ham United can confirm that the club has reluctantly accepted sanctions from UEFA in relation to our Europa League Group H away fixture against KRC Genk on Thursday, November 4.
‘Despite the club’s robust processes around our own security and operations in support of our ticketed fans who travelled to Genk, evidence has been presented to confirm that a small number of ticketless individuals caused disturbances and illegally gained entrance to Genk’s stadium.
The decision to ban fans has been criticised, with midfielder Declan Rice calling it ‘laughable’
‘West Ham United condemn the behaviour of this group of individuals and we are working to identify them following their actions, which have now ultimately led to our supporters – the vast majority of whom behaved impeccably in Belgium – being punished and resulting in David Moyes’ team being forced to play in Austria without the backing of the club’s fans, whose loyal and passionate support has spurred the Hammers on during an unbeaten opening four games of the Europa League adventure so far.’
Midfielder Declan Rice had also been heavily critical of the decision to ban fans, calling it ‘laughable’.
‘Laughable this is,’ he wrote on Twitter. ‘Gutted for our fans that now won’t be able to make the trip! Did Rapid Vienna get fined or a ban of tickets for there “crowd disturbances” at our stadium? Nope.’
Meanwhile, Angelo Ogbonna is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered against Liverpool two weeks ago. The centre back was initially substituted after a cut above his eye, before feeling discomfort in his knee. A scan confirmed ACL damage.