A bar owner in Seville has said that the authorities in the Spanish city are not adequately prepared for the invasion of Rangers and Frankfurt fans next Wednesday (May 18).
Michael Melia, a manager of an Irish bar called O’Neills, said that there are not enough televisions in the city for fans to be able to watch the game.
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He believes that those responsible for organising safe viewing areas have underestimated the influx of fans from both the Scottish and German side and says that he expects this to be a problem come final day.
He said: “If 60,000 go to La Cartuja, where will the other thousands go? I don’t think there’s enough TVs”.
Michael said he has “fond memories' from when Rangers Old Firm rivals Celtic flocked to his bar to watch their own UEFA Cup final in Seville back in 2003, the Record reports.
Despite the Parkhead side losing 3-2 in extra-time to Jose Mourinho’s Porto team, the fans partied like they had won, jumping in fountains.
He said: “They were good losers. It was a great atmosphere. The bar was 10-deep.”
However, this time his bar will be closed on match day for “maintenance”.
There are also fears that trouble may flare as happened in March when pitched bottle-throwing battles between Eintracht Frankfurt ultras and West Ham fans took place on Paseo de Colon, at the corner of O’Neills bar.
Michael said: “It was scary. The police dropped the ball.”
West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt were in Seville for Europa League ties against Seville FC and Real Betis.
Then the German support was only 3000-strong but included their ultras fans.
It is believed Eintracht Frankfurt will have between 60,000 and 100,000 fans travelling for the final this time.
