UEFA is preparing for the “very challenging” prospect of a Liverpool vs. Rangers Europa League final in Dublin.
The 82,000-seat Croke Park stadium has been set aside by the body that oversees European football as a possible fan zone. However, there are worries that even this might not be adequate to hold everyone who might go to Dublin without a ticket to enjoy the atmosphere before the match on Wednesday, May 22.
Both teams, Liverpool 5-1 ahead of Sparta Prague with the return match at Anfield to come, and Rangers level with Benfica going into Thursday’s second leg at Ibrox, are still in the running to play in the Aviva Stadium final. Both clubs have substantial fan bases in Ireland.
Other combinations could also cause UEFA problems. Theodore Theodoridis, general secretary of UEFA, stated on Tuesday that the Europa League final might be one of the organization’s largest obstacles this year. In some circumstances, this may prove to be the most difficult task for us due to the teams that have the ability to qualify.
“There are a few people who we know won’t have tickets, and there’s also the possibility of public viewing locations. It might not be enough, even though we have already reserved Croke Park for possible public viewing. There are two pairs that would be very difficult to find ways to accommodate everyone who will be there for that game; I won’t reveal the names because you are smart enough to figure it out.
“Football Supporters Europe and the local authorities are working with us on this already. We shall consult the fans of the participating clubs to determine the best course of action if we do reach one of those scenarios. Our main concern right now is whether Croke Park will be large enough since we believe there should be more options for public watching for the number of people that will be in Dublin.
It’s not a simple process, and it’s just for a few scenarios, which would make it very difficult, particularly for clubs that already have a sizable fan following on the island of Ireland. Yet we are addressing it and will involve the fan communities as well. After determining who advances to the semifinals, we will begin working with them as well.Potential Rangers vs. Liverpool Europa League Final in Dublin is “very challenging.”