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

[Taza]

On the day spent approx 7 hours on 3 Shuttle Busses :)

 

[maccieblue]

Just got off my shuttle bus, where's everyone

Still in the ground queuing for water

 

[Nethermoor]

Mad how shit it was for blues.

We moan about Wembley, but London is piss easy to navigate, there's food and drink all around the stadium and inside (albeit pricey).

Next year it's at Wembley. A proper host venue...

 

[Oystercatcher28]

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.

 

[pace89]

I thought we had it bad but we didn't have the complication of mobility issues and I feel a little selfish now worrying about getting back to IST for our 3:30am charter flight (which to be fair became much less panicky once Sportsworld had emailed that they and BooEFA were aware of the issues and were holding the flight) while others were having nightmarish experiences.

In future the club have to do better risk assessments and communication for the fans, especially the disabled, and point out the dangers so that people can decide whether to risk it or not. Clearly gravel is a nightmare for wheelchair users and those with sticks. Unfortunately there's no point in expecting the tournament organisers to do anything about it - they want to be seen to be moving the final around the continent as much as possible and if facilities don't match what fans expect at home then that's the continent's fault not theirs. There needs to be a fan-rating of these venues if there isn't one already.

I suspect Uefa keep the club in the dark almost as much as the fans. I bet if City asked to do a risk assessment Uefa / the host stadium wouldn't allow it.

 

[train man]

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!!

 

[Oystercatcher28]

Heard so many bad things from many, many fellow Blues. Did anyone have an easy journey on the day?

Hope all who had barriers like passports and phone stolen, get back safely.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

I suspect Uefa keep the club in the dark almost as much as the fans. I bet if City asked to do a risk assessment Uefa / the host stadium wouldn't allow it.

Maybe not but they have to display their concerns and asking to send out a team beforehand to discuss event management details would hopefully drive standards up and if not give legal ammunition to force a European Super League or get UEFA replaced. If standards haven’t changed since the dippers went in 2005 then something is not right.

 

[RACHACE]

Nightmare of a trip....ended up walking on my own through a sort of gypsy site...one lad was ok another was straight into my bag theiving my beer, trying to get in my pockets. After paying the decent lad 50tl a moped turned up to take me up the mountain side dirt track upto the ground. Stopped half way wanting more money, told him I will when we get to the top.
Pretty dodgy really but no major issues.

After the game was a total different story of an absolute cluster fuck of a trip back to the centre. We all know the story's and I'm just glad I didn't take my 8 year old lad.

Jesus fucking christ pal. Fair play to you. I'd have been going wild probably fearing for my life.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I suspect Uefa keep the club in the dark almost as much as the fans. I bet if City asked to do a risk assessment Uefa / the host stadium wouldn't allow it.

Lots to complain about to City, but it's not their competition, final or organization. No control or say.