Manchester City fans share horror stories from Champions League final in Istanbul. They faced problems with shuttle buses, fan zone, and security.
Manchester City Won, But Fans Had a Nightmare
Manchester City achieved their first Champions League title in the club's history after beating Inter Milan with a narrow 1-0 score in the final that took place at the Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday (11/6/2023) early morning.
The only goal of City's victory was scored by Kevin De Bruyne in the 76th minute after receiving a pass from Riyad Mahrez. Thus, City completed a domestic and European treble after previously winning the Premier League and the English League Cup.
However, behind the joy of the players and staff of City, there were horror stories experienced by the fans who came directly to Istanbul to watch their favorite team play. Many fans complained about the inadequate infrastructure and facilities in the city, as well as the poor treatment from the organizers and security forces.
Shuttle Buses Without Water and Toilets
One of the main problems faced by the fans was the shuttle buses provided by UEFA to transport them from the airport to the fan zone and stadium. According to The Independent report, many fans had to wait up to three hours to board the bus, without drinking water or toilets available. Some fans even vomited on the bus due to dehydration and exhaustion.
"The shuttle bus was a nightmare. We had to stand under the scorching sun for hours without water or toilets. The bus was also very hot and crowded. I felt like I was going to faint," said David, one of City's fans who came from Manchester.
"We also didn't know when the bus would come or how long the journey would take. We were only told that the bus would take us to the fan zone, but it turned out that it was far away from the stadium. We had to walk again for an hour to get there," he added.
Fan Zone with Scarce Toilets
The fan zone prepared by UEFA was not much better than the shuttle bus. There, fans were only treated to a big screen showing the match, without any entertainment or activities that they could enjoy. In addition, toilets in the fan zone were also very limited and dirty.
"The fan zone was very boring. There was nothing but a big screen. There was no music, no games, no good food or drinks. The toilets were also very few and disgusting. I had to queue for half an hour to pee," said Sarah, a City fan who came with her husband.
"I think UEFA didn't care at all about us. They just wanted to take our money without providing good service. I felt like I was treated as trash," she said.
Harsh Treatment from Security Forces
The fans also complained about the harsh treatment from Turkish security forces who were on duty at and around the stadium. Some fans said they were checked rudely and forced to remove their personal belongings without any clear reason. There were also fans who experienced physical violence from police.
"When we entered the stadium, we were checked like criminals. They told us to take off our shoes, shirts, hats, and even masks. They also confiscated our belongings such as flags, scarves, and lighters. They didn't explain anything, they just shouted in Turkish," said James, a City fan who came with his friends.
"One of my friends was even beaten by police because he didn't want to take off his hat. He suffered a head injury and had to be taken to hospital. We were very angry and scared. We felt unsafe here," he continued.
UEFA Must Be Held Accountable
The fans who experienced horror stories at the Champions League final demanded UEFA to be held accountable for their failure in organizing a decent event and respecting the rights of fans. They also asked UEFA to provide compensation for their losses and suffering.
"UEFA must apologize to us and give us compensation. They have ruined our experience that should have been a historic moment for our club. They have also violated our human rights by treating us like animals," said David.
"UEFA must also learn from their mistakes and not repeat them in the future. They must ensure that infrastructure and facilities in host cities meet good standards. They must also cooperate with local authorities to guarantee security and comfort for fans," he added.
1. goal.com
2. aceh.pikiran-rakyat.com
3. headtopics.com
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