Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal: Europa League final organisers opened the turnstiles to fill empty seats

Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal: Europa League final organisers opened the turnstiles to fill empty seats
Authorities in Baku opened the turnstiles during the first-half of the Europa League final to allow members of the public into the Olympic Stadium for free.The decision, which was taken without authorisation from UEFA, was made because Azerbaijani officials were said to be embarrassed about the amount of empty seats showing on television pictures.3

Fans were allowed into the stadium in Baku for free

Chelsea and Arsenal had already returned half of their 6,000 seats allocated due to the lack of demand for the final.Fans were reluctant to travel to Baku due to the long-natured distance of the journey and the cost of the trip, with some chartered flights by Thomas Cook priced at almost 1,000.BT Sport commentators referenced the amount of empty seats noticeable in the stadium in the opening 30 minutes of the match, but after the half hour mark many of the seats began to fill.3

Turnstiles at the stadium were opened so locals could enter for free

One Gunners fan, speaking to The Times, said: “We were in the Arsenal corner and there were a lot of empty seats and suddenly after about 30 minutes lots of local people arrived, including some kids, and they had been given Arsenal flags to wave.An employee at UEFA disclosed the decision of the officials in Baku had been taken against the wishes of the governing body, but they could do nothing to prevent it happening.Getty Images - Getty3

Mkhitaryan did not play the final due Armenia and Azerbaijan’s long-running conflict

UEFA also received widespread criticism when Arsenal made the decision not to take Armenian forward Henrikh Mikhitaryan to the match, with the 30-year-old refusing to travel to Baku over the conflict between his country and host nation Azerbaijan.The same political tensions saw him skip the Gunners clash against Qarabag in Baku earlier this season, while they also prevented him from playing for Borussia Dortmund in a Europa League game against Gabala in northern Azerbaijan in October 2015.

---

Liverpool transfer news: Reds not interested in Timo Werner because of ONE player halved come the summer with Daniel Sturridge due to leave at end of his Anfield contract and Divock Origi also
Liverpool free up space for £88m January arrival - Nebula EPL

---

Marouane Fellaini will escape retrospective action for pulling Matteo Guendouzi's hair in Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday evening.. The United midfielder yanked the
Marouane Fellaini will escape punishment for pulling Matteo

---

Transfer news and football gossip: AC Milan swoop for Spurs

---

Skipp has come off the bench several times. In his full Premier League debut against Burnley, Skipp got a standing ovation from the home crowd as he was coming off to be subbed by Heung-Min Son at
Christian Eriksen breaks Burnley's rugged resolve with 91st

---

Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand expects the pendulum to swing in Liverpool's favour during the second leg of their Champions League knockout stage match against Bayern Munich on Wednesday
Man Utd legend Ferdinand backing rivals Liverpool to beat

---

Mancini has recently stated that the player could make a return this season. Manchester United. 2 of 21. Rio Ferdinand runs him close, but Wayne Rooney is Manchester United guy. Rooney was
Manchester United summer transfer strategy: Who should stay

---

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy 'couldn't believe his eyes' during comeback against Ajax, Martin Jol tells talkSPORT Daniel Levy 'couldn't believe his eyes' as he watched Tottenham fight back to beat Ajax and seal their place in the Champions League final, former manager talkSPORT 12 hours ago
Talk Sport | SportSpyder

---

Jose Enrique has revealed he has got the all clear following treatment for a brain tumour in a video message on his Instagram page. The former Newcastle and Liverpool defender was diagnosed with chordoma in May 2018. Chordoma is a rare type of tumour that usually occurs in the bones of the skull base and spine, but his was found behind the eye.
Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique given all-clear from

---

In tribute to White Hart Lane, Sportsmail is here to run down the 20 greatest players to have crossed the white chalk (or titanium pigment) line in N17.
Sports Illustrated

---

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of midfielder Brahim Diaz from Manchester City on a six-and-a-half year contract.. Brahim moves to Spain in a deal worth at least £15 million ($19m) plus £

---

How many times every Premier League team has been first on

---

Harry Winks has been compared to Michael Carrick by former Chelsea star Joe Cole. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is renowned for his ball retention but, just like former Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Winks compared to Michael

---

Sergio Ramos is considering leaving Real Madrid this summer, according to growing reports in Spain.. Both Spanish TV show El Chiringuito and newspaper Marca claim that the Spain captain is ready to call time on his Bernabeu career after 14 years in the Spanish capital.
Sergio ramos News: Sergio ramos Latest News and Headlines

---

Manchester United. What do they need? The Red Devils really need to strengthen in a number of areas after such a poor season at Old Trafford. Defence is a priority for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side following their struggles at the back last campaign, with a new centre-back and right-back needed.
Champions League football not vital for signing top players
hollywoodadviser.com/champions-league-football-not-vital-for-signing-top-players-in-summer-transfer-window-says-new-manchester-united-boss-ole-gunnar-solskjaer/
Champions League football not vital for signing top players in summer transfer window, says new Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United tipped to sign seven players during the

---