Anger as UEFA refuse to comment on Champions League final logistical chaos in Istanbul despite supporters hitting out at poor disorganisation and unacceptable conditions
- Manchester City supporters criticised several failings before the final in Istanbul
- UEFA were sent a detailed breakdown but declined to comment on the matter
- The lack of engagement comes despite last year’s near-fatal crushes in Paris
UEFA have refused to comment on the logistical chaos that faced thousands of fans who travelled to last weekend’s Champions League final in Istanbul.
Their lack of engagement comes despite last year’s near-fatal crushes at the same final at the Stade de France and assurances that lessons had been learned.
The independent report commissioned by UEFA into Paris 2022 found that event was almost a ‘mass fatality catastrophe’ for which UEFA were ‘primarily responsible’.
The Mail on Sunday has gathered statements from Manchester City fans which point to further shocking disorganisation and unacceptable conditions in Istanbul.
We sent UEFA a detailed breakdown of the failings and a series of questions on Thursday. They sent a brief email the following afternoon informing us that they would be declining to comment.
UEFA have refused to comment on the logistical chaos before the Champions League final
Thousands of supporters suffered from disorganisation and poor conditions in Istanbul
Before the final, UEFA insisted they would be implementing the 21 recommendations for this year’s final and did consult closely with fans, making the breakdown of logistics in Istanbul even more unpardonable.
City fans, who had paid between €70 (£60) to €690 (£590) for match tickets, and some of whom were elderly, had to endure queues of two hours or more just to get on to the shuttle buses to reach the ground from central Istanbul and had water confiscated before embarking on three-hour journeys in overcrowded, unventilated buses with no toilet facilities.
Disabled fans on the buses say they were unsuitable for wheelchairs.
With water confiscated, many were left dehydrated and exhausted and some chose to disembark and walk along a motorway to reach the ground in time, with some male fans forced to urinate in bottles, an option unavailable to female fans.
Inside the stadium, fans complained of insufficient toilets and profiteering by water sellers, some of whom were demanding 260 Turkish Lira (£8.50) for a cup of water and 800 TL (£26) for a Pepsi.
UEFA’s lack of engagement comes despite last year’s near-fatal crushes at the final in Paris
