Hibs in UEFA stadium 'challenge' as Ben Kensell shares capacity concerns ahead of Conference League clash

Hibs are "challenging" UEFA to consider alternative venues for the away leg of their upcoming Euro tie.

After finishing fifth in the Premiership and clinching a spot in Europa Conference League second round qualifiers, the Hibees face either a trip to the Faroe Islands to take on Vikingur, or a return to Andorra against Club Inter D’Escaldes, having beaten FC Santa Coloma from the same nation two years ago. However, that game was played behind closed doors away from home due to Covid restrictions.

Chief executive Ben Kensell admits neither side’s ground will be big enough to accommodate the number of fans who want to travel from the Scottish capital. Vikingur’s Serpugerdi stadium holds just 1,400 fans and only 600 seats. Inter, like all Andorran clubs, play at stadiums owned by the national football federation, but the biggest of those has a capacity of just 1,500. The Easter Road chief claims the issue has been keeping him awake at night, and confirmed the Leith club have appealed to UEFA in order to secure bigger venues in both countries to allow more travelling fans to attend.

"It's a good draw for us," Kensell told BBC Scotland. But there are a few logistical issues. They are two small clubs with two very small stadiums.

"That's giving me sleepless nights since we have many fans that want to travel. We want to compete well in Europe and we want our fans to share that experience with us, so we are challenging Uefa at the moment as to whether there can be ground changes."

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