A HILARIOUS video shows West Ham fans playfully chanting to passengers who gave up their tickets to Prague ahead of the team’s final after the plane was overbooked.
Richard Dodds was on board a Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Prague, Czech Republic last night to watch his team face Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League Final tomorrow.
However, the 57-year-old and his fellow Hammers fans were informed moments before take off that the aircraft was overbooked and that two people would have to give up their seats in order to take off.
Despite a plane packed full of fans desperate to watch their side clinch their first European cup since 1965, one couple stood up and volunteered themselves, to the cheers of their fellow passengers.
Video begins with people applauding whilst Richard explains behind the camera: “Someone has just volunteered to get off the flight to allow us to go.
“They’ve offered them £250 to get off the flight – you can’t be a West Ham fan.”
The plane packed full of Irons fans then proceed to cheekily chant to the two passengers who are vacating the plane: “Are you Millwall, are you Millwall, are you Millwall in disguise?”
Richard continues “I have never been on such a chaotic flight in my life.”
The West Ham fans then sing “He’s going Prague” as they celebrate that the flight will finally be making its way to the Czech Republic.
Richard uploaded the chaotic video of the flight to social media last night with the caption: “When they overload the plane by two people and offer a hotel and £250 and the bloke gets up and takes one for the team, this is why I believe we are going to win the cup.”
The clip has since received over 500 likes and dozens of comments from footie fans.
One user wrote: “I’d only agree if they put me on the next flight.”
Another commented: “Said they would put him up in a hotel but couldn’t check in until 3pm. Absolute joke Ryanair.”
Another said: “He’s going on to the next flight out, though? Right?”
Speaking today Richard said: “The flight was delayed for 1-1.5 hours before we got on the plane.
“Then once on the plane they realised there were two people over the amount of seats. There was also one person on the plane who had a boarding pass with no seat number.
“This was quickly sorted out but they requested volunteers to get off the plane.
“None of us wanted to get off but we believe two people – who appear to be Czechoslovakian – volunteered for £250 and a hotel and a flight the following day to get off.
“We were first very nervous that the plane wasn’t even going to take off and would be cancelled and there was a definite feeling.
“But none of us were getting off the plane for any amount of money, this game is too important to us.
“I have been a West Ham fan for 51 years, since the age of six, so I know the importance of the cup and winning.
“We have been all over Europe in the last two years, and those memories can never be taken away from me, but a lift back up tomorrow would be the icing on the cake.
“It means that next year we can carry on the European dream which has been two of the best years of my life as a West Ham fan.”
West Ham play Italian side Fiorentina in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League tomorrow in Prague, at the Eden Arena.