One of UEFA's three European finals is already getting slammed - over its odd planning. West Ham United will play Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on the 7th of June at Prague's Fortuna Arena - the home of Slavia Praha. There's just one problem. Tickets. Only a select few West Ham fans will get the chance to see their club battle Fiorentina for a European trophy. Just under 5,000 to be exact, which is under ten percent of West Ham's season ticket count. While the Fortuna Arena (formerly the Eden Arena) lays claim to be the largest and most modern footballing venue in the Czech Republic, it's not exactly amongst Europe's biggest - and 'only' seats 19,370 supporters, of which under 5,000 will be Hammers fans, with Fiorentina gaining an equal allocation - with UEFA keeping/doling out the remainder. Of course, this isn't at all the fault of West Ham - but their ticket plan has slammed because of UEFA's choices. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter To put it in perspective, there are only two smaller Premier League stadiums than the Fortuna Arena - Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium and Brentford's Gtech Arena. It'd still be amongst the smaller stadiums in England's second tier of football. Fortuna Park would actually land at around 50th place in a list of biggest stadiums in England if it was suddenly plonked down in Blighty - and is barely bigger than Port Vale's Vale Park. There's a bit of form for UEFA here. Last season's Europa Conference League final (the competition's first) was held at the 22,500 capacity Arena Kombëtare in Albania. However, next season's is a bit of an upgrade, as 32,500 will fill Athens' Agia Sophia Arena. It goes without saying; all countries have a right to host great European competitions - but having under twenty-thousand supporters at a final puts fans out. So, for one of the biggest days in West Ham's recent history, only 4,890 will be able to attend. And although fans knew the low allocation was coming (the venue has been known for a while), it's still upset them to know just how few tickets will be available: In other news, a West Ham fan went viral for holding off an assortment of hooligans at the Irons' last UECL match - against AZ Alkmaar. Known as Knollsy, the supporter handled a bunch of encroaching thugs who sought to gain their way into what is said to be the 'family section' at the stadium. Let's hope he gets his ticket for the final. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Gareth Southgate advised players not to be stressed by summer transfer talk after joking the England squad have been “tapping each other up” throughout this camp. This mammoth, unprecedented season finally comes to a close with Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia at a sold-out Old Trafford. England won 4-0 in Malta on Friday and are expected to take another step towards next summer’s tournament by winning a Group C clash played out against a backdrop of transfer talk. Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker are subject of summer interest, while Harry Maguire, Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips have decisions to make over their lack of game time at club level. There is also speculation about Jordan Pickford and James Maddison, but Southgate has not felt the need to speak to players about it – even though the former defender does have some advice. “I haven’t felt the need to say anything,” Southgate said. “I mean, the players are tapping each other up anyway on the quiet, so I can’t do anything about that! “What I have said is that these things run their course, they happen in their own time, you can’t force it as a player. “Don’t get frustrated, don’t be asking all summer. You don’t need to be updated on every call that happens. “There’s a lot of negotiation that goes on. I remember as a player getting too wrapped up in every detail of that. “In the end, there’s only a small amount that you can actually control. “I think all of those things will happen later on in the summer and I think the players understand that, really. “And they know the focus for the next 36 hours is this game, finishing the season well, making sure we’re set on 12 points and we’ll be in a very healthy position if we do that.” Southgate was speaking alongside left-back Luke Shaw at Sunday’s pre-match press conference and the defender smiled when “tapping up” was mentioned. England are training at Manchester United’s Carrington base and the 27-year-old posted an Instagram story on Saturday showing pictures of him next to Kane and another with Rice. The Old Trafford giants have a longstanding interest in both, and Shaw tagged them in the post with the caption “Carrington tour” and an eyes emoji. Asked who he has been tapping up, Shaw said with a laugh: “There’s a few.” When Mason Mount, another United are interested in, was mentioned to him, Shaw said: “Obviously he’s not here but I think it is all just a bit of banter, really. “Obviously we have a joke and a laugh about it, not too sure what goes on behind the scenes. “It’s to do with the club, really, but of course when we are here we are always together and we have a joke about it. “I don’t really know too much what is going on. That’s just it really.” Shaw looks set to start on Monday as Old Trafford hosts the national men’s team for the first time since 2007. England also played there the previous year against Macedonia – a drab 0-0 draw in what proved to be a failed Euro 2008 qualification campaign. They drew 2-2 in their only other home meeting against the Balkan nation, who Southgate is not taking lightly as he looks to make it third time lucky. “They should have won the other night against Ukraine really,” the England boss said. “So we know the quality of some of the individual players. “They have got some players playing at big European clubs. As a team they function well. “They obviously knocked Italy out of the last World Cup and pushed Portugal close in those knockout games. So, they have got pedigree. “They bring the game to you a bit more than perhaps we had the other night as well. “So, it isn’t just a case of rolling on from Friday, it is a step up in intensity and quality and we’ve got to be right on our game to win the match.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Italy finish third in Nations League after beating the Netherlands Katie Boulter fulfils childhood ambition with ‘special’ victory at Nottingham Gareth Southgate sees a tougher test for his team at Old Trafford

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What the papers say The Sun says West Ham have delayed the £105million sale of Declan Rice as they wait for Arsenal to bring an acceptable payment plan. West Ham reportedly want the hefty sum paid by early 2025, Arsenal are hoping to pay it in increments over the next five years. The deal is said to be close to being settled. Villarreal defender Pau Torres is heading to the Premier League with Aston Villa as Unai Emery gets his man on a deal worth around £35million, according to the Guardian. Chelsea have identified their replacement for Mason Mount, who has agreed to a deal with Manchester United, in Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga, the Standard reports. The 21-year-old is currently LaLiga club Celta Vigo. Manchester City and Liverpool are also said to be interested in Veiga’s signature. Wilfried Zaha will be a free agent on Friday with the club great in talks Crystal Palace to potentially stay on at the club, the Daily Mail said. Jose Mourinho is reportedly considering a raid on Leicester with the Roma boss eyeing up Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka, the Daily Express reports. Social media round-up Players to watch Jurrien Timber: The Ajax defender is set for a medical at Arsenal as the clubs have agree a fee of around £36million, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports. Romelu Lukaku: The Belgian striker, who was on loan from Chelsea at Inter Milan last season, has rejected multiple offers from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal as he wants to stay at the Serie A side, Italian media outlet Gazzetta dello Sport says. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live