Asha Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 Link England fans face Wembley shut out for World Cup qualifier against Andorra England face the threat of playing their World Cup qualifying match against Andorra at Wembley on Wednesday night behind closed doors due to the impact of a 48 hour Tube strike. The extraordinary prospect has arisen after the Metropolitan Police and Brent Council raised fears over safety arising from the strike and the impact that it would have on moving vast numbers of people to and away from the stadium. The Football Association will be holding a crisis meeting later this morning with the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London and Brent Council. The police are concerned that emergency vehicles could struggle to get in and out of Wembley amid the gridlock that is anticipated around the stadium. "We are monitoring the situation and we will update fans when we have something to say," said an FA spokesman. It is understood that the threat of playing the match behind closed doors is the most extreme option currently on the table amid hopes that the RMT can still be persuaded to call off the strike. An announcement is expected later this afternoon. The match itself will still take place but purely as a television spectacle, with Fabio Capello’s side going through the motions of what should be a perfunctory victory against the European minnows against banks of empty seats. The limited capacity the local rail network can offer in the two hours before kick off is one of the primary safety risks and concerns identified by the authorities. A crowd of around 75,000 can usually be expected for a home international and the lack of an effective underground service makes such numbers unmanageable. The FA suspended ticket sales last week at 70,000 after it emerged that members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union intend to stage a 48-hour strike from 7pm today following a dispute over pay and jobs. Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out from 7pm on Tuesday until 7pm on Thursday, bringing the network to a standstill. Boris Johnson, the London mayor, and Transport for London have put in place a series of contingency plans aimed at helping commuters get to work, including extra buses, taxi-sharing and schemes to lead cyclists across the capital. Should the strike be called off, which appears very unlikely, the normal transportation plans would take effect and the doors to the national stadium opened. The news will come as a major disappointment not only to those fans with tickets for the match but for the England team who can effectively book a place at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa with an expected victory. To do so in front of empty seats rather than their supporters, should the shut out take place, would be a damp squib on what should be a night of celebration
Basingstoke Fox Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 Oh shit, I'm suppossed to be going to that tomorrow, if I'm not allowed in will I get my money back?
StanSP Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 Oh shit, I'm suppossed to be going to that tomorrow, if I'm not allowed in will I get my money back? You should. But if you don't get it back kick up a big fuss with the FA.
Craig Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 This'd surely be all over the BBC/Skysports if it was going to happen. It'l be fine
lcfc_jme Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 lol would be HILARIOUS if true. Not that you'd notice, mind. It'd still be about the same atmosphere anyway.
Matt Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 This'd surely be all over the BBC/Skysports if it was going to happen.It'l be fine SSN have just done a little report on it, After seeing it I was just about to post about it. Could Wembley actually be less full, and less atmospheric than it already is at most matches?
Craig Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 SSN have just done a little report on it, After seeing it I was just about to post about it.Could Wembley actually be less full, and less atmospheric than it already is at most matches? I apologise for the kiss of death then
Basingstoke Fox Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 You should. But if you don't get it back kick up a big fuss with the FA. I will do! I'm going with another 4 people plus there should be another 70 odd thousand who are going to be pretty pissed off if they dont get their money back too.
Corky Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 I hope it's not, my brother is going and I don't want to see him disappointed.
Leicester Rule! Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 SSN have just done a little report on it, After seeing it I was just about to post about it.Could Wembley actually be less full, and less atmospheric than it already is at most matches? Atmosphere against Croatia was quality, FACT Depends where you sit to be honest. Singing Section or Home Section is usually a good atmosphere.
Uncle Albert Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 I can't see this being played behind closed doors, they would have had to of confirmed this by now noy just for the England fans but for the small number of Andorra fans travelling over.
Bakey Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 SSN announce that the game wil go ahead with crowds. Edit: And if you cannot make it because of limited parking, refunds will be provided.
dandannieldanok Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 I can't see this being played behind closed doors, they would have had to of confirmed this by now noy just for the England fans but for the small number of Andorra fans travelling over. Are there actually going to be any travelling fans, they only get a couple of hundred at home matches.
Sparky Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 Are there actually going to be any travelling fans, they only get a couple of hundred at home matches. I went to the Andorra vs England game in Barcelona last September and saw 1 flag and maybe 7 fans
dandannieldanok Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 I went to the Andorra vs England game in Barcelona last September and saw 1 flag and maybe 7 fans I see, doubt there will be any need for segregation at Wembley then.
Leicester Rule! Posted 9 June 2009 Posted 9 June 2009 I went to the Andorra vs England game in Barcelona last September and saw 1 flag and maybe 7 fans They make Wales look like they have a quality following .... they only took 80 to Azerbajian!
Radovan's Caravan Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 They make Wales look like they have a quality following .... they only took 80 to Azerbajian! One could extrapolate from this that if Andorra's population were the same as England's almost 80,000 Andorrans would have travelled to Baku. Of course, your blind obseession with this moronic England cult prevents you from seeing exactly what Andorra is - an onshore tax haven in the Pyrenees that is smaller than any English county except Rutland. At the same time your stupid obsession allows you to view the upcoming mismatch in much the same way as you would view a game against Brazil. Of course you are not alone in this idiocy. Over 70,000 (NB a crowd significantly greater than the entire population of Andorra) of your similarly deluded countryman will trudge through north London salivating over the prospect of defeating a team of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers. And why? Because you cannot beat a quality side, you play with a hideous style and you will never ever win a major tournament. Winning the World Cup is nothing compared to beating Andorra away eh Leicester Rule?
Sparky Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 One could extrapolate from this that if Andorra's population were the same as England's almost 80,000 Andorrans would have travelled to Baku. Of course, your blind obseession with this moronic England cult prevents you from seeing exactly what Andorra is - an onshore tax haven in the Pyrenees that is smaller than any English county except Rutland.At the same time your stupid obsession allows you to view the upcoming mismatch in much the same way as you would view a game against Brazil. Of course you are not alone in this idiocy. Over 70,000 (NB a crowd significantly greater than the entire population of Andorra) of your similarly deluded countryman will trudge through north London salivating over the prospect of defeating a team of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers. And why? Because you cannot beat a quality side, you play with a hideous style and you will never ever win a major tournament. Winning the World Cup is nothing compared to beating Andorra away eh Leicester Rule? Maybe that is the case but whats your beef with us ?
Darkzzz_ Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 Walk in the park tonight then? I doubt I will be watching as there are more important things to be doing than watching this. Might catch the highlights later. Unless Chris Powell is playing in which case I will watch the whole game.
General Smuts Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 Sorry did i just find an excuse to go down the pub. Excellent news.
Basingstoke Fox Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 Today is going to be a fecking bitch to get to the stadium. I hate the RMT or the London Underground or whoever the fook is responsible for this strike
Stevosevic Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 4-0 Rooney x 2, Lampard, Heskey. Yes, it will be a walk in the park.
Big Ol' Bob Posted 10 June 2009 Posted 10 June 2009 6-0 Rooney x2, Heskey, Gerrard, Lampard and C.Cole.
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