Istanbul CL Final chaos | City Matters statement (p 133)

[jrb]

20-30 minutes to get served at the bars in the ground. Credit card machine couldn't get a signal. Cash only. Etc

Beer ran out in the fan park. I was in the last beer tent that had beer. Everyone piled in. Utter chaos. 100's at the bar queuing for beer. Bar staff saying beer sold out, pointing to the tip pots, put a tip in, which the staff took out and pocketed, and the beers arrived. Not arsed as it was only a few quid. UEFA were getting ripped off big time. Good! The staff were selling beer for cash and keeping the money.

 

[denTTony]

I was on one of the Sportsworld day in/out flights. Coming back we left about an hour later due to people struggling getting back to airport

i personally saw the trophy lift then ran for the airport shuttle. must have been on first or early one. Bus moved bout 100 yards then sat for about an hour as we watch dozens of knobhead taxis fighting to get in the outbound queue.
shuttle took over an hour to leave car part and about 2 hours back to IST airport

 

[OB1]

We used Metro both ways, was a good move.

 

[OB1]

Agree. Venue was absolutely shite location wise. No free water available either. Uefa should hang their heads in shame.

It's almost as if someone has to die for anything to get noticed by the pricks that run the game.

Seeing older supporters struggling to get on packed buses was hugely concerning and I'm really surprised that there's not been reports of supporters getting into real difficulties.

Istanbul has been great but the stadium is a bit of a sick joke; although we were fortunate and didn’t have travel problems. We got in stadium earlyish too and got food and drink before queues got silly.

 

[RACHACE]

Istanbul has been great but the stadium is a bit of a sick joke; although we were fortunate and didn’t have travel problems. We got in stadium earlyish too and got food and drink before queues got silly.

I'd go back to Istanbul in a heartbeat. Brilliant city. I'd love City to draw Fenerbache as the Asian side was the best area we visited.

I've no idea why that stadium was used. As soon as shuttle buses are being touted as the most efficient way of getting to and from the stadium it should have triggered that it might not be the best venue.

We've won it now but I'll continue to boo the Uefa anthem as they way they treat fans is a disgrace. 2-3 hour bus journeys with no food or water followed by another 1-2 hour queues inside the stadium to be charged high prices for 250ml carton of water. While the suits are sipping martini's nose rubbing each other.

 

[carlosthejackal]

UEFA are a disgrace

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Lucky you, we are currently delayed on one of the club trips by two hours. Is it because the plane taking us home was delayed this morning flying fans home before it flew back for another us because of the shit show on the car park. Did anyone at City who handles logistics etc fly out to the stadium prior to the match, if so it was pretty obvious that we were getting shafted. Milan end apparently was proper roads, all tarmac etc, we had what was essentially a dirt road and then treated inhumanly sitting on stifling hot buses for two hours. Wonder if Ceferin etc had same issues?

We went past one part of the Inter end and that bit looked rough to me. They had actually sprayed yellow lines directly onto the gravel to mark out the car park spaces and I started to worry what we would be faced with at that point. Inter of course got the better travel option but if that’s the price of booing then boo on!

 

[how soon is now]

Just about to take off back to Manchester. We resorted to a £100 cab ride back to our hotel. Already in the process of raising it with the club, although I’m almost certain that they’re already aware. Not overly confident we can achieve anything with UEFA but we’ll see what we can do.

Would love to know how you get on as we did exactly the same except to the airport.

 

[jrb]

Forgot to add. Thankfully I got a bus seat. :-)

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Would love to know how you get on as we did exactly the same except to the airport.

I’m guessing UEFA tell the Turkish authorities how many fans will be arriving and they want a regular shuttle service and Turkey then give them a quote for running x amount of coaches. I’m of the feeling that the drop in the value of the lira has caused the bus company to change from a shuttling arrangement to a cattle truck system. UEFA will wash their hands of it all, run an enquiry and announce lessons will be learned etc.

 

[horlock_was_super]

Over two and half hours on the fucking bus.
Then rushed through 4 security checks boarding pass didn’t work through security but, they let me through after checking my passport against my boarding pass.
Got to gate and it seemed the girl who gave me my boarding pass saw that someone with the same name as me was on the flight so printed another pass for the same seat!!! Turned away.
Then sent me to the other end of the airport where I managed to find my correct flight.
By this time I was completely exhausted and was delighted to just sit down.
Woke up three quarters of the way home! A final light at the end of the tunnel.

The elation is back now but, those 3 - 4 hours were at the time horrible.

Mind you when I left my phone, yes I did, on the shuttle bus from the festival village to the fan zone that feeling of despair will never, ever be beaten!

When this guy suddenly appeared with it I didn’t know whether to kiss him, laugh, cry or what the fuck.

Happy now after having a few decent hours sleep. Where’s the alcohol……….

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Agree. Venue was absolutely shite location wise. No free water available either. Uefa should hang their heads in shame.

It's almost as if someone has to die for anything to get noticed by the pricks that run the game.

Seeing older supporters struggling to get on packed buses was hugely concerning and I'm really surprised that there's not been reports of supporters getting into real difficulties.

I’m amazed that no one was seriously hurt last night (well hopefully not) on that walk for taxi’s. Cars were bombing past and lads were crossing the equivalent of a 60mph expressway in the pitch black. It was an accident waiting to happen and a complete shambles. I really felt for people with their kids and anyone with disabilities. Shocking.

 

[hammocity]

We got dropped by the official shuttle around 3:30am at an area just before Yenikapi, was 9 miles back to our hotel in Kadikoy. Metro was shut, first taxi wanted €250, a second was willing to take 5 in a normal cab for €150. We finally settled on one at €60 but he put the price up to €70 as he said the hotel was further away than we’d told him, lying Turkish twat, 15 minutes ride for around £63. Got a cab today from Kadikoy to IST for 1,000k TL, about £40 for a 1 hour journey.

Another **** at Bodrum airport tried charging us £12 a pint, my mate just fucked him off when he brought the bill, said he’d already paid, he was taking half cash and half card for obvious reasons, paid nothing.

 

[Platt Lane veteran]

We used Metro both ways, was a good move.

And yet we were warned, in no uncertain terms, not to use the metro. Incompetent waffa twats.

 

[Edghill OG]

Shuttle buses I was on broke down both on way to stadium and to airport after game. Luckily others behind to squeeze on. From the reaction of the drivers I would say a regular occurrence.

Fucking joke mate. Biggest game in club football and the decision makers thinking that what was being provided was going to be adequate.

Bus drivers not knowing the way and coaches that weren't roadworthy being utilised. No meaningful traffic control or sufficient numbers of stewards. Little to no signage.

Maybe we should cut them some slack they only host the tournament every single year!!!!

 

[jrb]

I always like to give every foreign city I visit a chance, but I won’t be coming back to Istanbul again. Bar the general chaos, traffic, size of the city, etc, the theft and ripping people off has left a sour taste in my mouth. I’ve spent endless time checking my pockets to make sure my phone, money and passport haven’t been stolen. Not to mention being over charged for almost everything, taxi, beer, food, etc. I shouldn’t tar the whole city or the Istanbul people in general as many of them have been very friendly, and it’s obviously the way of life in Istanbul, but the trip hasn’t been great in that respect.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Boooooooooooooo

 

[Son of Merv]

Over two and half hours on the fucking bus.
Then rushed through 4 security checks boarding pass didn’t work through security but, they let me through after checking my passport against my boarding pass.
Got to gate and it seemed the girl who gave me my boarding pass saw that someone with the same name as me was on the flight so printed another pass for the same seat!!! Turned away.
Then sent me to the other end of the airport where I managed to find my correct flight.
By this time I was completely exhausted and was delighted to just sit down.
Woke up three quarters of the way home! A final light at the end of the tunnel.

The elation is back now but, those 3 - 4 hours were at the time horrible.

Mind you when I left my phone, yes I did, on the shuttle bus from the festival village to the fan zone that feeling of despair will never, ever be beaten!

When this guy suddenly appeared with it I didn’t know whether to kiss him, laugh, cry or what the fuck.

Happy now after having a few decent hours sleep. Where’s the alcohol……….

I think I saw you get your phone back! One of the club stewards walking round with a phone held above his head and a happy blue claiming it. Outside the tent to the left of the exit gate?

 

[horlock_was_super]

I think I saw you get your phone back! One of the club stewards walking round with a phone held above his head and a happy blue claiming it. Outside the tent to the left of the exit gate?

Yes I was that stupid twat! :)

 

[maccieblue]

Our shuttle broke down on the way back as well. They do things weird over there! Anyway back home, probably a stone lighter after spending 6 hrs in sauna conditions on shuttle buses and planes.

Could be worse, like the poor chap who couldn’t travel on Flight 1 going out. Hope he’s feeling better and probably for the best he didn’t risk those buses.

So it was you lot that pilled onto our already crowded bus