🎥 UCL final chaos as traffic forces fans to walk and fire breaks out

OneFootball

Richard Buxton·10 June 2023

🎥 UCL final chaos as traffic forces fans to walk and fire breaks out

Fans heading to Saturday’s Champions League final have been forced into long walks due to traffic problems.

Manchester City1

Inter0

10/06/2023Full time

Manchester City and Inter supporters are making their way to the Atatürk Stadium ahead of the showpiece match but, with miles-long tailbacks in Istanbul several hours before kick-off, some have started to make the final leg of their journey on foot.

OneFootball Videos

Situation in Istanbul. 4+ hours until kick-off… #UCLFinal
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

15-mile journey from Istanbul to the Ataturk. Over two and a half hours to get to the stadium. And still four hours before kick-off. Still a pleasure… 🇹🇷 Wonder how Sheikh Mansour will be getting here 🤔 #UCLFinal
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

Taxi ditched. Riding in the back of a pick up to the ground with the Inter Ultras Cmon City! https://t.co/BHFLWNqSae
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

Total bottleneck around the stadium, traffic a standstill and many fans getting out to walk
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

@RSciama It’s at least a 40-minute walk from where we got out - bring water, yes. Some people are selling water too. It is very poorly signposted once you get here
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

Adding to the logistical issues of fans was the breakout of a fire in the Turkish city which led to smoke clouds drifting towards the stadium.

MAHSUR KALANLAR KURTARILDI Başakşehir İkitelli Organize Sanayi Bölgesi'nde yangın https://t.co/m8C33fe38i Foto: DHA
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

Meanwhile in Istanbul. The smoke has reached the stadium. 🔥 #UCLfinal https://t.co/3676q7HWpJ
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

Uefa advised both teams’ supporters to arrive early for the final to avoid any potential hold-ups in their journey.

Fans arriving at last season’s final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris were heavily delayed en route and met issues at the turnstiles, leading to kick-off being postponed by 36 minutes.