Why are Bayern Munich fans BANNED from the Emirates Stadium for their Champions League first leg against Arsenal?
ARSENAL are all set for their revenge mission on Bayern Munich in what is set to be a mouthwatering Champions League tie – and they have been given the biggest advantage ahead of the first leg.
The Gunners finally broke their last-16 curse by sending Portuguese icons Porto home via a dramatic penalty shootout.
As a result, they were rewarded with a two-legged quarter-final tie against Bayern – the team who famously humiliated them 10-2 on aggregate.
However, things will already be different this time round as UEFA have revealed that Bayern fans will NOT be allowed in the stadium for the first leg at the Emirates.
And SunSport have the reasons why.
Why are Bayern Munich fans BANNED from the Emirates for the first leg
During their 1-0 first leg defeat away at Lazio in the last-16, travelling Bayern fans threw fireworks onto the pitch. They would eventually win 3-1 on aggregate to advance.
Having already received a suspended one-match ban – as well as a £30k fine – for an identical incident in the group stages at Copenhagen in October, Uefa were left with no choice but to impose the ban.
The away end at the Emirates will also be free to be filled instead by more home fans, meaning the possibility of the 60,000-capacity stadium being a sell-out without any travelling supporters.
What has been said?
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen has admitted that his club have to accept the ban that has been given to the fans.
Dreesen said: “We have to accept this punishment.
“Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately onto the field, directly endangering bystanders.
“This was such an explicit violation of the conditions of probation that an appeal is unfortunately futile.
“The fact we now have to play away without the support of our fans is a big blow.
“A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team.”
When is Arsenal vs Bayern Munich’s first leg?
Arsenal‘s thrilling Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich will take place TOMORROW – Tuesday, April 9.
It is scheduled to kick off at 8pm BST.
And the Gunners will be determined to get revenge for the last time the two sides met which ended in an embarrassing aggregate defeat of 10-2.