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

[pride in battle]

I was so tempTed to walk round to the metro, but as soon as the trophy was lifted we went thinking we’d beat the rush in the buses, oh how wrong we were!

So you left after they lifted the cup ?

 

[Blue Maverick]

So you left after they lifted the cup ?

Saw them come over to our end with it mate for about 5 mins, but then decided to go and get on a bus, wish I’d gone to the metro like others now.

 

[Eds]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Weirdly enough, I lost access to my City Matters account shortly after I posted it publicly. Only just sorted it.

The club came back to me with a somewhat positive reply to the report, without really addressing the parts that related to themselves. We are meeting with them tomorrow (a wider meeting, touching upon the group's governance for example) and we have reiterated that we would like them to comment publicly and improve the areas that related to the club. We would also like to see the evidence that they submitted to the UEFA independent of my report. Presuming that doesn't happen (and I don't hold out much hope), then we will start to ramp up some of the other avenues that we have used to publicise the issues faced in Istanbul and the report.

One of the positive aspects from the club is that they passed on the report to UEFA. As reported in the MEN, UEFA have agreed to meet with the club over the issues. I think that at least me and the City Matters chair will be attending that meeting.

As some have mentioned on here, I am in the process of asking local politicians to raise the matter. I would have done this sooner had it not been for my technology issues recently. Having experience of local and national politics myself, I will probably be able to liaise with Lucy Powell as my MP (quite helpfully she is Shadow Secretary of Culture, Media and Sports) but I may need others to do so with other local politicians.

In short, that was a long way of saying that there has been some limited progress with this. To be honest, that isn't unexpected given the limited standing of City Matters and the approach to fan welfare by too many of the governing bodies. However, having been in Istanbul and hearing so much from supporters, this isn't something I intend to let just wither away.

Keep it going Alex, the way the club have been silent over all the issues thousands faced is nothing short of shameful. It appears that the 'normal' fans were just an inconvenience to all those who were wined and dined by UEFA and faced no issues whatsoever. Dippers and the press never shut up about the final in Paris until action was seen to be done. I have never seen so much incompetence at a football match before in my life and the contempt the stewards, police, catering staff, coach drivers etc had for the fans was disgusting. So much corruption and criminality in one place and the club and UEFA don't bat an eyelid.

 

[CarlosTevez'sEnglishTutor]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Weirdly enough, I lost access to my City Matters account shortly after I posted it publicly. Only just sorted it.

The club came back to me with a somewhat positive reply to the report, without really addressing the parts that related to themselves. We are meeting with them tomorrow (a wider meeting, touching upon the group's governance for example) and we have reiterated that we would like them to comment publicly and improve the areas that related to the club. We would also like to see the evidence that they submitted to the UEFA independent of my report. Presuming that doesn't happen (and I don't hold out much hope), then we will start to ramp up some of the other avenues that we have used to publicise the issues faced in Istanbul and the report.

One of the positive aspects from the club is that they passed on the report to UEFA. As reported in the MEN, UEFA have agreed to meet with the club over the issues. I think that at least me and the City Matters chair will be attending that meeting.

As some have mentioned on here, I am in the process of asking local politicians to raise the matter. I would have done this sooner had it not been for my technology issues recently. Having experience of local and national politics myself, I will probably be able to liaise with Lucy Powell as my MP (quite helpfully she is Shadow Secretary of Culture, Media and Sports) but I may need others to do so with other local politicians.

In short, that was a long way of saying that there has been some limited progress with this. To be honest, that isn't unexpected given the limited standing of City Matters and the approach to fan welfare by too many of the governing bodies. However, having been in Istanbul and hearing so much from supporters, this isn't something I intend to let just wither away.

Great words. Thanks again and don't back down to any bullying tactics. You are representing us and we are right behind you, you are doing the right thing.

 

[mainestand]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Weirdly enough, I lost access to my City Matters account shortly after I posted it publicly. Only just sorted it.

The club came back to me with a somewhat positive reply to the report, without really addressing the parts that related to themselves. We are meeting with them tomorrow (a wider meeting, touching upon the group's governance for example) and we have reiterated that we would like them to comment publicly and improve the areas that related to the club. We would also like to see the evidence that they submitted to the UEFA independent of my report. Presuming that doesn't happen (and I don't hold out much hope), then we will start to ramp up some of the other avenues that we have used to publicise the issues faced in Istanbul and the report.

One of the positive aspects from the club is that they passed on the report to UEFA. As reported in the MEN, UEFA have agreed to meet with the club over the issues. I think that at least me and the City Matters chair will be attending that meeting.

As some have mentioned on here, I am in the process of asking local politicians to raise the matter. I would have done this sooner had it not been for my technology issues recently. Having experience of local and national politics myself, I will probably be able to liaise with Lucy Powell as my MP (quite helpfully she is Shadow Secretary of Culture, Media and Sports) but I may need others to do so with other local politicians.

In short, that was a long way of saying that there has been some limited progress with this. To be honest, that isn't unexpected given the limited standing of City Matters and the approach to fan welfare by too many of the governing bodies. However, having been in Istanbul and hearing so much from supporters, this isn't something I intend to let just wither away.

Alex, great work you have done putting that report together.

 

[Tolmie scores]

Keep it going Alex, the way the club have been silent over all the issues thousands faced is nothing short of shameful. It appears that the 'normal' fans were just an inconvenience to all those who were wined and dined by UEFA and faced no issues whatsoever. Dippers and the press never shut up about the final in Paris until action was seen to be done. I have never seen so much incompetence at a football match before in my life and the contempt the stewards, police, catering staff, coach drivers etc had for the fans was disgusting. So much corruption and criminality in one place and the club and UEFA don't bat an eyelid.

UEFA are completely shit and incompetent ..also i think it's a little deliberate - as you said corporate and VIP's no problem..they want sanitized finals like super bowl...no 'riff raff' that might upset the sanitized safe experience they craved. If you were to organize a match and your goal was to make it as uncomfortable and unenjoyable match experience as possible UEFA did it amazingly well. Im sure they briefed stewards, and so called caterers ..why did people buy their £20.00 shit hot dogs - we make a rod for our own backs supporting those crooks.

 

[Eds]

UEFA are completely shit and incompetent ..also i think it's a little deliberate - as you said corporate and VIP's no problem..they want sanitized finals like super bowl...no 'riff raff' that might upset the sanitized safe experience they craved. If you were to organize a match and your goal was to make it as uncomfortable and unenjoyable match experience as possible UEFA did it amazingly well. Im sure they briefed stewards, and so called caterers ..why did people buy their £20.00 shit hot dogs - we make a rod for our own backs supporting those crooks.

Agreed. The reason people bought the shit food was having sat on a bus for two to three hours with no food or water to arrive at a fan zone three hours before kick off to find there was no food or drink people inevitably queued for another hour for their overpriced food and drink as otherwise it would have been the best part, for many, of ten hours without food or drink! They knew exactly what they were doing with all their transport shit, the scandal here is the club's silence as well.

 

[BringBackSwales]

The Commonwealth Games in Manchester employed an Australian who had helped in the Sydney Olympic Games. He got the transport spot on for that.

Yeah he was, I met him once. Wasn’t he recruited by GMT? Listened to people, which isn’t always an Australian trait!

 

[CarlosTevez'sEnglishTutor]

Agreed. The reason people bought the shit food was having sat on a bus for two to three hours with no food or water to arrive at a fan zone three hours before kick off to find there was no food or drink people inevitably queued for another hour for their overpriced food and drink as otherwise it would have been the best part, for many, of ten hours without food or drink! They knew exactly what they were doing with all their transport shit, the scandal here is the club's silence as well.

Agreed. @Tolmie scores I had water taken off me before getting on the bus after over an hour's queue in the sun. I don't drink alcohol so this wasn't a case of being told it was booze or acting drunk. I managed to get in the ground quite early despite the 3hr journey, so got food easy enough while everyone was drinking in the fanzone outside. This food was our only option, we were starved like dogs with no food available in the fanzone and massive queues. These unmanageable queues also started taking place in the stadium over 2 hours before kick-off.

I regretted going once I got there to the stadium, really tarnished my mood on what should have been a great night. I felt like I suffered and I'm a fit 30yo man. UEFA predictably let us down on the night, in ways that those who weren't there won't be able to fathom. I feel the radio silence by City speaks volumes, and if pushed under the carpet without a response, they will lose loyal supporters over it. We aren't even numbers anymore, the club is self-sustainable without matchgoing fans, we all know that and the pandemic also proved that. However, I'd feel seriously let down if we don't hear a response from City soon on this.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Agreed. @Tolmie scores I had water taken off me before getting on the bus after over an hour's queue in the sun. I don't drink alcohol so this wasn't a case of being told it was booze or acting drunk. I managed to get in the ground quite early despite the 3hr journey, so got food easy enough while everyone was drinking in the fanzone outside. This food was our only option, we were starved like dogs with no food available in the fanzone and massive queues. These unmanageable queues also started taking place in the stadium over 2 hours before kick-off.

I regretted going once I got there to the stadium, really tarnished my mood on what should have been a great night. I felt like I suffered and I'm a fit 30yo man. UEFA predictably let us down on the night, in ways that those who weren't there won't be able to fathom. I feel the radio silence by City speaks volumes, and if pushed under the carpet without a response, they will lose loyal supporters over it. We aren't even numbers anymore, the club is self-sustainable without matchgoing fans, we all know that and the pandemic also proved that. However, I'd feel seriously let down if we don't hear a response from City soon on this.

I didn't even go partly due to monies and the assumption the whole ' experience ' off the pitch would be a shit show and I feel let down for you all.

Although the club weren't directly responsible had we caused bother over there they'd be digging us out.