Best Headline Ever: Volcanic Ash Cloud could threaten Fulham’s Europa League semifinal fixture in Hamburg
Best Headline Ever: Volcanic Ash Cloud could threaten Fulham’s Europa League semifinal fixture in Hamburg
I know this sounds like a joke or something straight out of Lord of the Rings, but I swear it isn’t. Which makes this news all the more fun to share. I hope you already haven’t splashed a bit of cash on soccer tickets for the first leg of the Europa League semifinals between Atletico Madrid-Liverpool & Fulham-Hamburg because 1) the first-leg matches in Madrid & Hamburg may get postponed and 2) getting a flight in Europe right now is harder than Ashley Cole keeping himself being made the subject of a fairly inappropriate volcano-based joke.
If you’ve not been watching the news, here’s a little summary of what’s been going on with all this surreal Icelandic volcano jive:
The volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland is causing travel chaos across Europe. Planes have been grounded causing 1000’s of flights to be cancelled and for stranded tourists to either stay put or seek alternative methods for getting home
Anyway, Fulham gaffer Roy Hodgson has revealed that their Europa League match on Thursday in Hamburg could be in jeopardy because of the almost ineffable situation caused by the volcanic ash cloud. (excuse my enthusiasm on this subject, I just never thought I would be able to relate a volcanic ash cloud to football)
Hodgson has said:
“UEFA have been in touch with the club and the English FA are in touch with the matter,” Hodgson said. “One of UEFA’s concerns is that it should be fair and that their opponents don’t have to go through hell and high water to get to the game.
"An ideal scenario would be that the volcanic ash clears up and we can fly over to Germany. It’s totally and utterly linked to if there are flights. If there are no flights then the only option is to get a train and bus to Hamburg.
"There could still be a further problem because there might be no trains or coaches to travel on but I’m confident UEFA will resolve the problem.”
UEFA is going to announce on Monday whether or not it intends to let Fulham’s first leg in Hamburg go ahead. But regardless, British airspace is closed until at least 7am Sunday morning. Again, I need to re-emphasize how ridiculous and awesome I find this whole situation to be.
