White is a 'founder' of MUST and is the most fanatical Rag you could encounter. His views on football are poisoned bias as is reflected in everything he writes or says. He's in a job for the clickbait he churns out and nothing else.That fuckin pathetic talkshite 'compere' and lickspittle to the even worse simon know-nowt jordan, jim white, was asking whether travel to/from the stadium and conditions around it were 'really as bad as City fans were making out', as if the all the tales of shocking arrangements, infrastructure and complete lack of basics for match-going fans were something of an invention, absolute fuckin prick!!
Compare to the fuckin rimming he was giving the dippers last year after a glut of forgeries caused mayhem at their end in Paris, the station is a joke! I know I should stick to summat else on the dog walk, but sometimes the loop on uk gold is just a little too narrow...
Btw, alex crook(?) put him right saying even 5 hours before the game his taxi driver ditched 'em saying he wouldn't be able to reach the ground in time, and that the metro alternative was dangerously overcrowded. Hmmm, time to change subject for jim white - after the break we'll discuss the latest in the 'manchester united' ownership saga!!
Better call Saul.The only thing these people will listen to is litigation. I know it’s horribly Scouse-esque but get a mydieselclaim.com style ambulance chaser on the case and a class action for those hurt, made ill, no disabled access etc. and at least it shines a spotlight on them. The club can’t/won’t do anything for fear of retaliation. We need compo lawyers of the lowest order on the case
With that level of responsibility and yet to say that is appalling. If he was asked a question and replied with those words in the context of knowing what happened to thousands of City supporters telling their individual stories, he should be fired. If he didn't know, he should have offered no comment until he'd reviewed the facts and been told what to say. Best of all, he should have been in the pitch black on that 'car park' on Saturday night to witness the danger in which he and others had placed City supporters to whom he personally owed a duty of care, as I was there and witnessed. Gross negligence does not do it justice. It would have been close to criminal negligence if it had been 'planned' that way in the UK. I couldn't even call it 'badly organised' since there was no organisation. It was utterly ramshackle and undertaken without any risk analysis whatsoever unless done by someone intent on getting people killed.Just heard Danny Wilson in an interview say that the weekend went pretty much without a hitch and the fans were exemplary. One out of two Danny. But if this is the club’s view no wonder we haven’t heard anything from them about the issues we faced.
That’s a different Jim White I think.White is a 'founder' of MUST and is the most fanatical Rag you could encounter. His views on football are poisoned bias as is reflected in everything he writes or says. He's in a job for the clickbait he churns out and nothing else.
Here’s my version:Below is a draft letter:
ADDRESS TO: UEFA, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, WHOEVER...
RE: LETTER OF DISSATISFACTION
Dear Sir or Madam,
I wish to express my complete dissatisfaction of many aspects experienced before, during and after the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul. I understand that UEFA has disclaimers and small print to cover some of these matters, but that is a poor excuse for the overall ineptitude on display. I politely request you review the matters below and apply strategies to future events to avoid such a wealth of embarrassment.
On arrival to İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, at 11:00am, I immediately stepped onto the first coach which said MAN CITY – Yenikapi. After less than an hour into the advised 1.5 hour [as advised via the UEFA fan app and uefa.com ] the coach’s engine was pumping smoke out. The driver pulled into a service station and said to “wait twenty minutes”. I didn’t mind it, and most supporters were understanding. We grabbed food and waited about an hour for a replacement coach. The coach did a tour of Turkey, passing the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, before heading back into the centre, missing turn after turn, whilst the driver kept asking passing motorists for directions. The coach arrived at the UEFA Champions Festival for 4:00pm. I entered the festival, used the toilet and went to find how when to get the coach to the stadium.
Time spent on a bus: 4 hours.
After joining a queue, exposed to direct sunlight coach 3 departed into traffic, arriving at the fan zone of the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. The temporary car park and pathways were unwelcoming but not a hindrance for the mobile. I did see several fans helping people pass over the uneven surface to the City fanzone. The queues for food at the fanzone and the lack of options to drink were unpleasant but expected with such large crowds at 7:00pm. I asked for an ice-cold Heineken® Original but couldn’t get one as the man serving advised that they’d ran out. I went to another tent and found a beer to enjoy, but couldn’t queue for food as the service was beyond reasonable.
Time spent on a bus: 2.5 hours.
After this I walked through another security check. Yenikapi had two bag checks. The fanzone had two bag checks to enter. A further two bag checks was made before walking to the stadium along the ten-minute route. On entering the gate, I had my bag checked at three points. The final bag check, the man emptied my small A4 bag clumsily. He refused to allow a 50ml sunblock container, my smaller-than-phone-sized power bank and a small packet of rivaroxaban (with just 2 pills left). I snatched the latter back, which was wrestled from my hand by the steward, and asked to see a supervisor or boss, and that boss refused the permitted items. Bizarrely, they overlooked the loose coins in my bag. Using what little dignity, I had I picked the rivaroxaban from the rubbish bag and emptied a tablet into my hand and swallowed it. I needed it for the flight back on the next day. Two 20mg tablets of the anticoagulant decreases the risk of developing Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) dramatically. The steward and supervisor laughed at me and I walked away.
Before the game the service for food and water was acceptable, save the 5 Euro price of water for tiny-little plastic cups. I hydrated and purchased enough for the game. However, by half time I was severely dehydrated, dry and had a sore throat. I went to queue for water. After 15 minutes of half-time, I was still queuing and listening to the haggling of those selling water at the counter by block 332/331. I could hear City fans being offered a 1.5L bottle of Pepsi for 35 Euros! By the time Rodri scored on 68 minutes, I hadn’t been served. I’d missed the goal of the top-level competition in Europe and I couldn’t celebrate properly because I was past thirsty. Around the 75 minutes mark, I was served but had to argue the 10 Euro price of the advertised water at 5 Euros. The counter man said it was “bigger” than other water bottles earlier. I even had to haggle for Pepsi and paid 15 Euros because there was no hope of getting a drink later. This is a great shame. The region deserves a greater profile and the culture is amazingly diverse. This was not a good advertisement. This buffoonish fan experience was a yarn with little pleasant anecdote.
The joy of seeing your club lift the trophy quickly became a reality call, that a bus journey was needed to get back to İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Post-match buses to the airport were scattered around a toxic fume-pumping atmosphere of stationary cars and coaches. The waiting point was blocked by a bus unable to move and only after forty minutes did a lesser-spotted steward advise that the bus was “somewhere down a road or in the car parks at the back”. He advised to go look for the bus. Walking on uneven stones, through cars edging impatiently and leaving little room for movement, I became thankful that I did not bring my son to the game. This was no safe place for a family and a kid. Eventually, I jumped onto a bus with other fans. Here the bus edged out of the car park during a two-hour period. On meeting other fans at the airport, I was told of people who had had their phones stolen, passports snatched and other permitted items seized at the stadium.
Time spent on a bus: 4.5 hours.
Is it acceptable to spend 11 hours on shuttle buses? As, the premier cup of European nations, the UEFA Champions League is supposed to outshine every tournament in the region. On reflection, I truly believe the final to be the most underwhelming experience I have experienced. I compare this to remarkable cycling (track and road), rugby league, athletics, martial arts and other experiences that I, or friends and family, have attended over the last three decades. I do not expect a response, although one is certainly welcomed. I feel that UEFA’s Super Cup in Athens and future finals will be difficult to attend without worry and anxiety.
Yours faithfully,
INSERT SIGNATURE
P.S. the behaviour of Inter Milan, neutral and Manchester City fans needs highlighting. Both behaved impeccably and with respect before, during and after the game.
Has anyone who was there actually told the club though? Or just, quite naturally, complained on here or to their mates?Just heard Danny Wilson in an interview say that the weekend went pretty much without a hitch and the fans were exemplary. One out of two Danny. But if this is the club’s view no wonder we haven’t heard anything from them about the issues we faced.
That poor woman who got accosted by fans asking wtf was going on. She tried to explain there was a queue but nobody knew where it started! Unfortunately Sportsworld had told us on the day trips that our wristbands would enable us to be identified easily so we could be taken back as a sort of priority, big mistake. I was assuming they had put a bus aside for us and the blurb from UEFA suggested similar. My thought is that Sportsworld and UEFA thought the Turkish had it organised, when clearly they were either inept or on the take.Went to Istanbul. It was like a game of 2 halves. Got the 10.50am Turkish Airlines from Birmingham, Saturday morning . Good flight on time, leaving and arriving. Got through passport control in 5 minutes and directed out of the airport, turned right as instructed and straight onto a coach, seated, which took 70 mins to get to the fan zone.
Then the problems started. The fan zone was just an open shale covered area. People in wheelchairs had difficulty in moving their chairs. Arrived in the Fan Zone at 6.30pm to be told that the beer had all gone and the alternative was a small plastic tub of water at £5 each. A few people said that the beer issue was that the bars had been closed not run out of beer.
Watched the match. Fans were loud and supportive (except for a short time early in the second half) and the result was everything.
Then came the big problems. I watched the lifting of the trophy and then left early to catch a flight from Istanbul international early Sunday morning. There was one small sign and found the bus “stops”. There were only about 100 people at 12.30am. I missed the first bus by one person (who pushed in) and then the trouble started. Fans came by the thousands with no regard to queuing. There was one young lady asking people to go back to the line but there was no line and within seconds it was chaos. No buses turned up even though the lady said there were 120 of them somewhere.
I eventually got on a bus but had to stand the whole time (2 hours + not moving from the car park and then another hour and a half till we arrived at the airport).
UEFA should be ashamed of them selves. They have been running football matches for decades it can’t be that difficult to organise.
People say it is the result that counts and after going to Porto and losing, winning is all that matters. 24 hours later I have forgotten the bad and remember only the winning. I can always say “I was there”.
I’d be very surprised if anyone at the club will be interested, we have no fans groups, the Supporters Club will likely not do anything…So....what is to be done about all this,and who's going to do it ?
UEFA don't read BM and our media are unlikely to campaign on our behalf.
UEFA must be held to account for ALL their failings,dereliction of duty, duty of care,breach of contract etc.
Could the good Dr Garry act as our spokesman ?.....this must not be allowed to fade away, because next time we could be reporting on deaths !!
I miss it already!Got back roundabout the same time as you to Taksin, fell into the bed and then the call to prayer from the mosque started belting out haha.
:))))))))))))))))Got back roundabout the same time as you to Taksin, fell into the bed and then the call to prayer from the mosque started belting out haha.
Sportsworld - 32 rows of 6 people x £1080 = £207,360 per flight and then there is no crew available? We missed the flight slot - 1 hr delay - unacceptable but by all accounts that was lucky. Absolutely no reason to take a charter again from the stories I have heard from others. Shame on you sports world.
Took a taxi to sultanahmet 40euros 1.5hrs couldn't face the shuttle.
Accommodation booked myself - wonderful £150 for 2 for 2 nights triple room next to blue mosque. Absolute winner. Glad I didn't get ripped off by sportsworld accommodation package which would have cost me an additional £1000 for 2 nights - unacceptable sports world.please call it ROP (rip off package) rater than VIP package moving forward.
I tried to use fan pass via CL app to take transport to Yenikapı - didn't work. Jumped the barriers and got to Yenikapi 2.30pm. Fan Pass didn't work. Unacceptable UEFA
Drink around the corner 100TL which was selling at 30TL 1 hr previously from corner shop. Acceptable supply and demand IMO and prompt service! 50TL to use hotel toilets - entrepreneurs! acceptable IMO. still cheaper than the fan hub and fan zone and toilet q was much smaller than stadium!
Planned to spend time at Hub before getting coach but q was over 300m so went straight into q - ridiculous.
q 30mins for bus to fan zone and then 2hr transfer. We were lucky. Buses had no air con, no windows, no toilets and a major health and safety issue. Unacceptable UEFA
UEFA checks were appalling / discriminatory and the staff were either untrained or uneducated - unacceptable UEFA.
We sang for over half of the journey and spirits were kept high - again lucky
Fan park - over 1 hr q for food. From 5pm - 7pm you could get heineken from a can for 7euros. unacceptable food q's and prices.
Walk from fan park to stadium and activation of ticket was seamless for us.
Went out at 29mins to get some food in stadium - made it back at 57mins. V lucky. service in stadium a disgrace. minimal staff, minimal food and after waiting 5 mins to pay I gave up and went back to my seat. Unacceptable staffing at stadium. Who cares about the fireworks and pre game performances - was that for the UEFA VIP's?
Then it was ectasy and loved every minute - but that was down to city!
Left after all the team had left the pitch and went to join what I knew would be a q. Absolute carnage. no lighting, no signs, no toilets, no organisation. Surprised there were no injuries.
Gave up and walked down the road for a "toilet break". Realised that the traffic out of car park was extensive so decided that the shuttle was not an option.
Walked down the dirt track, no lighting, no directions until I saw a group of police. Asked the directions for the metro and I was told it was closed by one and then another pointed down the hill. Absolute disgrace. Kept walking and at that point I truly would have walked back to the city. The Uefa buses had a separate exit - disgrace. Walked on further - probably 1km onto the actual motorway where cars were strewn on the hard shoulder. Finally got to a point where I could see the motorway split for city and airport. The airport q was at a standstill and the city route empty. I couldn't cross the motorway to walk to the route to the city. Seriously it doesn't take a genius that you need to have two separate routes out of the car park for each. Unacceptable.
Ended up flagging down a taxi in the middle of the road and paying £100 to take us into the city - sultanahmet . 20mins. Back having a kebab and beer on the table at 2am. V lucky.
Sportsworld flight back on Sunday on the way back was on time. No steps at Manchester airport so extra 15mins. V lucky as I believe that happened to most flights and also there was a lack of buses from flight to airport terminal. Sadly either sports world or the airport hadn't accounted for the disabled passengers who were left on our flight ? awaiting a lift that wasn't ordered? I cannot believe to imagine how difficult this whole experience would have been in a wheel chair. Maybe those issues relate to Manchester airport? Had hand package so no idea how long it took for bags to arrive.
Overall Friday to Sunday in Istanbul was an incredible experience that we will never forget. The actual UEFA organisation + Istanbul as a venue for a CL final was carnage. Buses breaking down / going the wrong way / over 4 hr transfers were common place amongst others / 4 hours to the airport or city post match was common place. Aside the UEFA carnage I I cannot overlook the sports world profiteering and poor organisation either.
Thank god we won and thank god the next two finals are at Wembley and Alliance but you simply cannot host a CL final without infrastructure and in the end that fault rests solely with UEFA. I will definitely would think twice before going on a sports world package again either. As for going back to Istanbul again - absolutely. As for seeing city lifting the trophy - absolutely.
Cost of a private boeing for 300+ people is £15k per hour and crew max £5k with expenses plus Manchester airport fees - sports world? profiteering from city fans? surely Ethiad could have lined up 4 planes going every 2-3 hours Thurs - Sat and back Sun-Monday? and charged the normal rate of £200 - £250 return and still made a profit? God knows how horrific the day trip sports world package for £1k was. As for the shuttles - why - why not just tell everyone how to get onto the train / metro with signage - even if one train is for city and one was for for milan? UEFA have clearly discriminated agents Man City fans by advising not to use the train/metro. As for the busses into the fan zone (if that was required) - close one lane of the motorway just for fans between 5pm - 7pm on game day. After the game separate routes for those going to the airport and those going to the city and again close the motorway to non match traffic when match ends until 2 hours after. Seriously it is not rocket science. UEFA seriously.
Sheikh Mansour you have done so much for this club and we thank you greatly for everything you have done. Paying for our transport to Porto CL final was a massive gesture of good will. Being free the problem with the coaches on the way back was not an issue - On this occasion however the fans have been manipulated. They have paid x4 face value for transport via sports world and been subject to the worst transport imaginable in Istanbul. Yes we have won the CL but we should never go through this farce again. You have the power to escalate this and find a solution. Please help the fans that make this club the club it is. Champions.