Newcastle's UEFA Rule-Breaking Storm Delay Leads to Epic Milan Clash: Champions League Opener in Jeopardy!

Newcastle unintentionally violated UEFA regulations regarding Champions League arrangements as their flight to Milan experienced a delay of over two hours caused by a storm in Italy. Eddie Howe and his team departed from Newcastle for their journey to northern Italy two hours and 20 minutes behind schedule.

According to UEFA regulations, teams are required to conduct their pre-match press conferences the day before a match, between 12pm and 8pm local time. The delay in schedule is unclear, as a storm hit Milan at 5pm, shortly after Newcastle's departure.

Eddie Howe attributed their delay at the San Siro to the weather, acknowledging that they spent nearly two hours on the runway before eventually taking off. Newcastle's press conference commenced at 9pm, two hours later than originally planned.

Howe: Milan arrival 'no big deal'

Howe insisted the weather which delayed Newcastle's arrival in Italy will not derail their Champions League adventure.

The club's recent European journey didn't have the most promising beginning. Despite being granted permission to train in Tyneside on Monday morning instead of the San Siro later in the day, they ended up staying grounded for over two hours. Nevertheless, during Howe's press conference upon their eventual arrival, he firmly stated that the preparations for the challenging first match against Milan would not be affected.

He stated that it is a routine aspect of our job and it is not unusual for such situations to occur. Although this particular delay is slightly later than desired for the players, it is something we are accustomed to and is not a significant issue.

Analysis: Howe will be frustrated behind closed doors

We News' Keith Downie in Milan:

Eddie Howe is likely to be displeased with the significant delay in Newcastle's flight, which was delayed by almost two and a half hours. During the press conference, we waited for their arrival without any prior notification of the delay. Furthermore, Newcastle has already contravened UEFA regulations even before reaching Milan.

Milan experienced severe inclement weather around 5pm, including a powerful storm. If the flight delay is attributed to these weather conditions, it should be acknowledged as an acceptable reason.

People might wonder why they didn't fly earlier. Eddie Howe chose to conduct their training in Newcastle instead of the San Siro, a rare occurrence for teams playing in Europe. They have the freedom to do so, but they won't be able to in the knock-out stages.

The motive behind this decision, in my opinion, is that he doesn't want anyone to possibly observe their session the night before the match.

The knock-on effects of that situation are significant. Their flight has been delayed by two and a half hours, causing them to arrive for a press conference at 9pm. As a result, it is unlikely that they will reach their hotel until 11pm. This is particularly concerning for Sandro Tonali, as he needs to rest for the early kick-off game tomorrow. Overall, the situation does not appear favorable at the moment.

Howe's frustration is evident in their lack of good preparations for their first game back in Champions League football. While we cannot determine whose fault it is yet, it is surprising that Newcastle, considering the number of away games they play in England, did not prioritize settling down in their hotel well in advance.