Fulham and Liverpool plan for overland trips to semis

The Europa League semi-final first legs involving Fulham and Liverpool this week are to go ahead despite the travel chaos engulfing Europe as a result of volcanic ash grounding flights, UEFA said yesterday.

Fulham are due to play Hamburg in Germany while Liverpool are scheduled to be hosted by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital with both English clubs obliged to be at their respective venues 24 hours before kick-off.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is hoping flights will have resumed by tomorrow but the club has made alternative arrangements in case that does not happen.

"The team has a contingency plan for travel to enable them to arrive in Hamburg in time for their scheduled match preparations," the west London club said.

Although the squad will be able to get to Hamburg, Fulham fans who had planned to fly to Germany may miss out on the biggest European match in the west London club's history.

UEFA's statement did not rule out the possibility of one or both semi-final first legs being postponed nearer the time.

Liverpool have made contingency plans to get to the Spanish capital without flying but they would involve a 2,600-mile round trip that is bound to be fatiguing for a squad that played West Ham in a Premier League fixture last night.

Liverpool insiders fear that could give Atletico an unfair advantage but UEFA has already insisted on the Champions League semi-finals between Inter and Barcelona and Bayern Munich and Lyon going ahead this week, forcing the Spanish and French sides to make long journeys by coach.

UEFA said: "UEFA is continuing to closely monitor the travel situation throughout Europe and beyond, in an effort to confirm the staging of a number of matches that are due to take place this week in UEFA competitions.

"Regarding the Europa League semi-final first-leg matches scheduled for Thursday... it is planned that both games will go ahead as normal.

"However, with the majority of airspace over Europe still closed and other forms of transport limited or fully booked, UEFA are in close contact with both English clubs on the travel options available to them."