{"id":298643,"date":"2023-12-07T17:24:42","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T17:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298643"},"modified":"2023-12-07T17:24:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T17:24:42","slug":"journey-back-to-the-80s-for-champions-league-fans-victims-of-uefa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/journey-back-to-the-80s-for-champions-league-fans-victims-of-uefa\/","title":{"rendered":"Journey back to the 80s for Champions League fans victims of UEFA"},"content":{"rendered":"
Standing in puddles in a dark concrete alleyway by the malfunctioning turnstiles of Galatasaray\u2019s RAMS Park Stadium, the Manchester United supporters were relieved when a decision was taken to open a small door to the side. It didn\u2019t feel particularly safe to funnel 500 people through such a tight space but at least it meant they may finally get in to see the game. Inside the stadium last Wednesday, their team were already two goals up.<\/p>\n
At full-time, meanwhile, a decision was taken to hold those same United supporters inside for 80 minutes. By the time they left on a wet night, it was late and the handful of shuttle buses provided for the 10 mile journey to central Istanbul were filling up fast. Some tried hitching lifts by the motorway. Others found taxis asking for $US100.<\/p>\n
And this is often what it\u2019s like when you travel in the Champions League. Europe\u2019s flagship tournament treats its corporate guests and sponsors well. No shortage of transport, signage and canapes for those in the padded seats. The regular supporters? Not so much. Increasingly, UEFA and their pals don\u2019t much seem to care about how the paying public get there and even less about how they get home.<\/p>\n
So on the top of much-publicised incidents at Paris for the 2022 final and yet again, on a lesser but still disturbing scale, at a different Istanbul stadium for the following year\u2019s showpiece, come stories like this, stories of fans left at the mercy of inadequate stadiums, pitiful organisation and rank bad stewarding and policing just to try and watch a football match. It\u2019s shameful and as football continues to put money first and supporters nowhere the worse it is allowed to get.<\/p>\n
United fan Matt Ford was in Istanbul and told me: \u2018We got to the ground in decent time but it was obvious we weren\u2019t getting in.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Manchester United supporters were greeted with a banner welcoming them to ‘Hell’ in Turkey<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UEFA were widely derided for their chaotic mismanagement of fans at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Scores of fans with tickets were kept out at Stade de France in shameful scenes in the capital<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
\u2018There were lots of signs for media and sponsors but nothing for away fans.<\/p>\n
\u2018We found it. Down some steps into a dark tunnel. Water everywhere. Stumbling over wooden pallets on the floor. People falling over. And then to turnstiles and scanners that weren\u2019t working properly.<\/p>\n
\u2018The stewards and police were shouting. I wasn\u2019t scared because I have been here before. But was it dangerous? Yes.<\/p>\n
\u2018We were all crammed in with nowhere to go. So what happened to Liverpool fans in Paris crosses your mind. Of course it does.<\/p>\n
\u2018Eventually they gave up and took us round the side through a fire exit. One copper and he is shouting. Eventually you get in and its \u00a32 for a carton of water and the card machines aren\u2019t working.<\/p>\n
\u2018Then after the game, when you eventually get to town, you are just relieved and the shocking thing is that it\u2019s so often like this.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Champions League makes millions but at an away game it\u2019s like the 1980s. They just don\u2019t care about you.\u2019<\/p>\n
Ford is a journalist who contributes to the United We Stand fanzine. But his experiences are entirely normal and will be familiar to travelling fans associated with all English clubs.<\/p>\n
I was in Milan in September for Newcastle\u2019s game. Afterwards away fans found the two local metro stations shut at 9pm and in the absence of taxis were forced to walk an hour back in to the city. Once they had dispersed the Metro stations were opened again.<\/p>\n
Manchester City fans returning home from their team\u2019s Champions League final in Turkey last June told horrendous stories of being corralled like cattle before the game and then abandoned miles from the city once it was over. Many were scared.<\/p>\n
Ford and his travel companions attach no blame for last week to United and nor should they. As usual the club had done extensive reconnaissance, had its own stewards present, had provided the shuttle buses themselves. They then leant on UEFA and Galatasaray to act once they became aware of the dangers outside.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UEFA don’t seem to care about how the paying public watch matches, and care less about how they get home safely (pictured UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin)<\/p>\n
They flagged the issues regarding the debris and poor lighting in the access tunnel to UEFA on the morning of the game but nothing was done. United have now subsequently registered their dissatisfaction and are circulating a feedback survey put together by the Manchester United Supporters Trust that will then be passed to the authorities.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s admirable work but will anything change? It\u2019s doubtful.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more than 16 years since I witnessed Liverpool fans sheltering under cardboard in a car park with no toilets or water in the middle of the night after the 2007 final in Athens. Nothing has changed since then so why would it now?<\/p>\n
There are several ways through which clubs qualify for the Champions League. If they cannot guarantee comfort and safety for visiting fans then frankly they should not be allowed anywhere near it.<\/p>\n
RASHFORD CHOPS AND CHANGES\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Marcus Rashford has changed his PR team again. That\u2019s three different companies in a couple of years. Goals remain a forward\u2019s best publicity, though, and Rashford has one in the Premier League from open play.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s your problem Marcus. Despite what anyone whispers in your ear, the rest is just bulls**t.<\/p>\n NOTHING OFF THE TABLE FOR TOON\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Newcastle’s kit used to be red and white. It was not until 1894 that they adopted the black and white stripes previously favoured by the county of Northumberland.<\/p>\n So not everything is sacred. Not Newcastle\u2019s playing colours, not their badge \u2013 which has changed four times down the years \u2013 and not their St James\u2019 Park Stadium.<\/p>\n I desperately hope Newcastle stay on their current site. There are few stadiums quite like it and watching it come in to view high on the hill as I drive over the Redheugh Bridge is one of my very favourite sights in football.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n St James’ Park is a rare breed of stadium – but there is no predicting which direction the ownership will take as they expand<\/p>\n However, Newcastle are ready to progress and with that in mind their owners from Saudi Arabia are right to look at what needs to be done to accelerate things to the next level. After years in the doldrums, Newcastle need to start winning things again. With that in mind, nothing should be off the table in terms of what they do or where they actually play.<\/p>\n In terms of the home kit they wear, I think we are on safer ground.<\/p>\n WHY PALACE ARE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Strange as it may sound, one of the most consistent Premier League teams are Crystal Palace. In the last six seasons they have finished 11th, 12th, 14th, 14th, 12th and 11th. In that time they have always amassed between 43 and 49 points.<\/p>\n The problem for chairman Steve Parish and football director Dougie Freedman is how to take the next step. As they have stayed safe and secure but also rather inert, other clubs like Brighton and Brentford have eased past them.<\/p>\n The feeling now is that manager Roy Hodgson is on thin ice. If Steve Cooper is sacked by Nottingham Forest, Palace may well try and hire him.<\/p>\n But whatever they do, Parish and Freedman must show more conviction than the last time they decided to aim higher.<\/p>\n Two summers ago they replaced Hodgson with Patrick Vieira with the stated aim of changing the way Palace played. It was, we were told, a switch made for the long-term good. Yet as soon as Viera\u2019s reign ran in to problems they sacked him and ushered Hodgson back in.<\/p>\n Palace are currently 14th. Safe, secure but once again rather stuck. Why is anyone surprised?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The re-appointment of Roy Hodgson hasn’t sparked a football revolution at Selhurst Park\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Erling Haaland and Man City’s treatment of Simon Hooper did not warrant an apology, says manager Pep Guardiola<\/p>\n FOOTBALL’S BLIND SPOT\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking after Erling Haaland and his team-mates harassed referee Simon Hooper for failing to play a late advantage against Tottenham, Pep Guardiola was forthright.<\/p>\n \u2018The referee knows what he has done,\u2019 said the Manchester City manager.<\/p>\n \u2018They didn\u2019t apologise. We can\u2019t apologise. I don\u2019t understand how it should be different.\u2019<\/p>\n Goodness me, how entitled. There is a distinct difference between making a mistake and behaving like Haaland and his gang. The fact football fails to see this is central to the problem.<\/p>\n It’s All Kicking Off\u00a0is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.<\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify<\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\nIT’S ALL KICKING OFF!\u00a0<\/h3>\n