Finale Europske lige u Bakuu između Chelseaja i Arsenala naišlo je na mnoge kritike puno prije prvog sučeva zvižduka.
Pored političkih pitanja zbog kojih je utakmicu propustio Henrih Mhitarjan, sporna je i udaljena, slabo povezana lokacija.
Mnogi navijači Arsenala i Chelseaja, ali i dobitnici sponzorskih ulaznica, odustali su od putovanja koje iziskuje nekoliko dana i presjedanja te tisuće eura troškova.
Rezultat je da stadion nije do kraja popunjen, a prazna mjesta jasno se vide u prijenosu. Atmosfera je slaba, navijačka pjesma slabo se čuje, što i ne čudi budući da je iz engleske pristiglo svega oko 7.000 navijača obaju klubova.
Mnoge atmosfera podsjeća na kakvu predsezonsku pripremnu utakmicu, a ugođaj dodatno narušava i sam izgled stadiona. Između terena i tribina nalaze se "kilometri" atletske staze, a samim time i položaj kamere nije najsretniji.
"Od***i UEFA, je li ovo ono što želiš", skandiraju navijači Chelseaja s tribina, a njima su se u izražavanju nezadovoljstva pridružili i brojni korisnici društvenih mreža. Vrlo popularan je postao komentar Garyja Linekera, engleske nogometne legende koja često komentira nogometne aktualnosti.
"Toliko si putovao na europsko finale, a kad sjedneš na svoje mjesto, nisi puno bliže terenu nego od doma", napisao je i pridružio se brojim kritičarima organizacije ovog finala.
You travel all that way to watch a European final and when you sit in your seat you’re not much closer to the pitch than when you left home.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2019
❌ The pitch is about a mile away from the stands.
— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) May 29, 2019
❌ It's not a sell-out.
❌ Only 7,000 Arsenal and Chelsea fans could make the trip.
❌ Exhibition type atmosphere.
❌ Camera angle a mile away.
Dear @UEFA,
You're a joke. 🖕
Sincerely everyone. pic.twitter.com/990cQSw0ES
Chelsea fans: "Fuck off UEFA, is this what you want?"
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) May 29, 2019
Not all that much red or blue, to be honest. Lots of empty seats. So many fans who follow Arsenal and Chelsea everywhere have been priced/inconvenienced out of this trip. As for the "Uefa football family" (i.e. sponsors), doesn't look like they fancied it. Poor, poor show
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) May 29, 2019
That atmosphere in Baku is genuinely worse than a pre-season friendly. UEFA should be ashamed of themselves - but they don’t answer to anyone - and don’t understand why this is so shite for football.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) May 29, 2019
"F**k off Uefa, is this what you want?" sing #cfc fans in Baku. #emptyseats #greed #politics
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 29, 2019
Sad to see so many empty seats in a major final. Odd to play the final in a place like Baku. Doesn’t look good, UEFA. pic.twitter.com/hePN43KHyL
— The Away Fans Videos (@TheAwayFansVids) May 29, 2019
Dear @UEFA. Plse play Europa League Final at Yankee Stadium next year. There are more flights from London and even it is a better fit for football than Baku 🇺🇸
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 29, 2019
Baku baku UEFA 🙈🙈🙈 i swear i have a better view infront of my TV pic.twitter.com/5UIWKsWbHx
— Ikram Rexhepi (@IkramRexhepi2) May 29, 2019
