Source: FOOTYMAD
Nearly A Greek Tragedy For United
United will be heading for a ground south of the centre of Athens for tommorow's game Dundee United will play their Europa League second leg against AEK Athens in the Greek capital after the game was moved to the home of amateur side Panionios. The Olympic Stadium was deemed unplayable on Monday after the new pitch failed to bed in amid searing temperatures. United had initially been told the game could be moved almost 200 miles away in Volos but the Tayside club were understandably angered by that prospect. AEK, who won the first leg of their play-off 1-0, were given a noon deadline by UEFA to find an alternative venue and were then allowed an extra four hours. It was then confirmed that the game will be played in the 11,700-capacity Nea Smyrni Stadium, which is just more than two miles south of Athens city centre. United have been given 800 tickets for their first European away fixture in five years. The Panionios stadium used to have a capacity of about 20,000 until seats were installed in the late 1990s. It has a horseshoe-like shape, without a northern stand. The south curve is a double-tiered stand that is usually allocated to away fans. However it's upper tier has not been used for many years because of structural problems that have been discovered!The stadium has been upgraded in recent years with the Panionios shop as well as a VIP lounge with view of the pitch both built below the main west stand in 2001. Further works were carried out in 2003, the most important of which was the new roof over the same stand. Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
