UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admitted that “not everything is perfect” for fans after criticism about the Champions League final in Istanbul.
THERE reports with fans having to walk long distances along busy roads, hours for transport to and from the stadium and left without water as Manchester City defeated Inter Milan on 10 June.
UEFA has apologized before Liverpool fans were barricaded and tear gassed before last year’s final in Paris.
European football’s governing body has yet to address the issues experienced by supporters in Istanbul.
However, at the opening of the four-day European Football Fans Congress in Manchester, Ceferin accepted the problems that have arisen in Turkey need to be solved.
“Given what some of you have been through recently, I’ll understand if I get a cold reception tonight,” he said.
“We know that in Istanbul not everything is perfect. I never played the problems that some encountered.
“But we will continue to work together to improve what we can improve.
“I’m thinking in particular of the transport links to and from the stadium, the hosting of supporters in the stadium and access to water and toilets for everyone.”
Football Supporters Europe collected fan accounts from Istanbul to present a report to UEFA.
Ceferin said other major UEFA finals in the men’s and women’s games had passed without major issues.
The showpieces in 2024 – when Wembley will host the final of the Champions League and Germany the European Championships – will be an “unique experience” for fans, he added.
Ceferin apologized for the failures in Paris
Ceferin used his opening speech at the National Football Museum to praise the fans protest against the proposed European Super League in 2022, saying: “You are the captain and lead the team in the game of our lives.”
However, memories of the chaotic scenes in Paris remain fresh in the mind, as do the earlier attempts by Uefa and the French authorities to blame the supporters for the events outside the Stade de France.
UEFA’s own review concluded that European football’s governing body bore “primary responsibility” and that it was “remarkable” that it did not cause loss of life.
The review added that trying to blame ticketless fans was “reprehensible”.
“I came to apologize,” Ceferin said. “We want to erase the events of last year from our memories.
“Last year everyone accepted our decision to move the final from St Petersburg to Paris and in the end we all know what happened.
“Good intentions are often not enough. We know that and we regret that.”
‘We must rid ourselves of idiots’
Earlier this week, West Ham were stopped from selling tickets to fans for their first Europa League group game next season due to the behavior of fans at the Europa Conference League final in Prague.
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor is was also verbally harassed at an airport in Budapest last month after the Europa League final, leading Ceferin to address fan behavior.
“We must shout, call out and rid ourselves of these idiots, who bring shame to football and the fans,” he said.
“We rid ourselves of those who pour hatred on football officials, referees, UEFA staff, federations and leagues.
“They are fans like you. They love football like you and they have families like you. And they make mistakes like you and me.
“I will not accept the kind of threats and intimidation and violence that some people are subjected to as we have seen recently.”
