Eintracht Frankfurt withdrew their ticket allocation for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League last 16 matches at Napoli after Italian authorities barred the Naples club from selling tickets to away fans following altercations in the stands during the first leg in Germany.
The German club announced in a statement that it will file an appeal against the new decree of the City of Naples’ prefecture, which prohibits Eintracht Frankfurt fans from attending Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to support their club during the second leg in Italy.
“A new decree from the prefecture of the City of Naples has been issued, attempting to achieve what failed spectacularly the first time. On Sunday evening, it was decided that SSC Napoli would not be allowed to sell tickets for the UEFA Champions League round of the 16-second leg this coming Wednesday, March 15, to any Frankfurt am Main residents. The previous decree extended the ban to German citizens “Eintracht Frankfurt announced the news in a statement.
Following the altercations between the fans of the two clubs during the first leg on Feb. 21, Italian authorities prohibited Napoli from selling tickets to German residents for security reasons. Several arrests were made by Frankfurt police.
Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in Frankfurt am Main, giving them a significant advantage in the Champions League quarterfinals.
“As a result, we will forego our entire away allocation unless some aspect of the decree changes unexpectedly,” said Eintracht Frankfurt board member Philipp Reschke.
Reschke went on to say that the new Naples prefecture decree “is no less unlawful in its contents,” and that it is inappropriate because the majority of the German team’s fans do not come from Frankfurt.
Napoli, who is having a fantastic season in the Italian league, will face Eintracht Frankfurt in Naples on Wednesday at 2000 GMT.
