Manchester City fans have been instructed to arrive nine hours early for Saturday’s Champions League showpiece event.
The UEFA Champions League Final 2022-23 is currently the most significant event in European club football.
This year, Manchester City and Inter Milan will lock horns for the UEFA Champions League title at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
However, there are concerns regarding the safety of fans, particularly after the disturbing incidents that occurred at the entrance gates of Stade de France during the UCL grand finale last year, just before kickoff.
Last year, on May 29th, the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool experienced a delayed kick-off of 37 minutes.
This was due to a large number of Liverpool fans being stuck amidst chaos at the entrance gates, causing them to be unable to make it to their seats inside the stadium.
On that fateful night in Paris, the Los Blancos secured their 14th UCL title by defeating the Reds with a score of 1-0.
However, last year’s Paris final witnessed ticketing issues and errors, which were compounded by the heavy-handedness of the police.
This situation put the safety of Liverpool supporters who were present at the showpiece event at risk.
To avoid last year’s errors, the UEFA leaders have ultimately initiated an investigation into the disorder surrounding ticketing and have now proposed new guidelines for the upcoming major event.
The UEFA hierarchy have had discussions with local law enforcement officials regarding concerns that certain aspects of policing may be outside of their jurisdiction.
New regulations and protocols set by UEFA
UEFA has successfully reversed its initial decision to ban items such as rainbow flags and clothing with the word “ultra“.
However, it is still recommended that fans arrive nine hours before the game, which begins at 10 pm local time (8 PM WAT).
The Ataturk Stadium, where Liverpool achieved their memorable victory and the fifth Champions League in 2005, is located over an hour to the west of Istanbul’s city center.
The location is conveniently served by a metro station, however, Uefa officials are strongly recommending fans to take shuttle buses at 1 pm instead.
Upon arrival at the stadium, ticket holders will have the opportunity to participate in the fan zone opening at 2 pm. This event will feature food and beer available for purchase.
Before entering the ground, fans will need to go through three different security checkpoints.
To activate the tickets, the first step is to ensure that their phone’s Bluetooth is turned on.
The individuals will undergo two searches, one by the police and another by a private security firm.
The Metro trains are scheduled to cease operations at 11:50 pm.
However, shuttle buses will be available to transport passengers back to the city center until 3 am.
Alcoholic drinks will not be accessible to spectators upon entering the stadium. However, the fan park will be accessible for a brief period following the game.
Where to watch the UEFA Champions League Final between Man City and Inter Milan?
The final match of the UEFA Champions League 2022-23 season will feature Manchester City and Inter Milan.
The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 10 by 8 pm at the Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
You have the option to watch live matches on TV channels or stream them from anywhere using platforms such as YouTube channels, the BT Sport app, FuboTV, or Bet365.
Ticket price and how to obtain it
The tickets are categorized based on seat rows, with the lowest price starting at $1269. You have the option to conveniently purchase your ticket online through either viagogo.com or Event Ticket Master.
Manchester City, the English champions led by Pep Guardiola, are set to travel to Southeastern Europe to win their first-ever UCL title and complete the treble.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan, led by Simone Inzaghi, will aim to secure their fourth Champions League title in football history. The team previously won the prestigious trophy in 1964, 1965, and 2010.
