List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

It may be of scant consolation in the Ruhr Valley but Borussia Dortmund’s status as the footballing world’s preeminent feeder club seems cemented. A few days before Erling Haaland, their 2022 flagship sale, played in a Champions League final, there was confirmation that Jude Bellingham, his 2023 counterpart, is going to serial Champions League winners Real Madrid. He was perhaps overshadowed by the Miami-bound Lionel Messi but it probably still represents the summer’s most momentous transfer. There have been times over the last two seasons when Real have seemed to be mounting a lone campaign to prevent the Premier League from dominating Europe; they eliminated three English opponents last season and two this before the emphatic 4-0 defeat to Manchester City. It doesn’t quite reverse the scoreline, but as City were also suitors for Bellingham, Real gained revenge of sorts. Perhaps they are never more potent in the transfer market than when hammered on the pitch: in 2009, after being thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool, they went out and bought Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Kaka. Fourteen years and five Champions Leagues later, Benzema is finally leaving. That Bellingham is still a teenager, if only for a few weeks, opens up the prospect of a sequel, a continuum of success. Maybe a generational talent will help swing the balance of power back to where it has often resided, in the Bernabeu. It also shows that his is a career unlike any other English player: even if the Premier League eventually does beckon, it will only be after playing in the Championship, the Bundesliga and La Liga. There is an English trait towards insularity, but Bellingham feels increasingly cosmopolitan. And Real still seem the ultimate destination club. In a world of various rivalries – England versus mainland Europe, new money against old – the siren call of Spain’s two superpowers remains strong. Being Real – or Barcelona – comes with certain advantages; they have long exerted a gravitational pull for Spanish, Portuguese and South American footballers but Bellingham is proof it still extends beyond them. It also confers an economic advantage. If Barcelona’s current financial strategy is to get everything and everyone on the cheap, Real may have got Bellingham for a relative bargain. Sizeable as an initial fee of £86 million is, it is less than many anticipated. When Liverpool bowed out of the race for him, the sense was that Bellingham could go for £130 million; even £86 million would have been beyond Liverpool’s parameters, as some other clubs had already concluded, while Manchester United’s need for a striker meant he could not be their top priority. It may have only left a market of two: Real and City. In his own way, Bellingham is the anti-Haaland. Whereas there was a clear vacancy for a centre-forward in Manchester, there is congestion in the queue for midfield spots in Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti might be the greatest diplomat of his age. He might also need to be, with the next generation of Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, while there is also the ancien regime of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to placate. In one respect, it may have been better for Real had Bellingham joined in 2024 when one or both of Modric and Kroos could leave. In the meantime, even the compromises of fielding Camavinga at left-back and Valverde on the right wing may not shield the reality each has a compelling case to start in midfield in the major matches. Six into three does not go. Nevertheless, Real still look masters of succession planning. It is a way in which they have reinvented themselves. Vinicius Junior is proof they are now signing Galacticos before they become Galacticos and, for all his talent, Bellingham has not yet gravitated to the level of fame players such as Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham had when Real bought them. But it is notable that Bellingham joins as perhaps the last of the old-school Galacticos goes: Eden Hazard was the trophy signing, the €100 million man who left on a free transfer. Real got four goals in La Liga from Hazard over four seasons and if injuries rendered him and them luckless, Bellingham offers the prospect of more longevity and resale value as well as a greater impact. Hazard apart, Real have been smart buyers in recent years, with a judicious mix of long-term investments, astute free transfers and players acquired for less than their actual value. They have debunked their own dishonest rationale for trying to found the Super League by handling transition within the existing parameters of their budget, and perhaps emerging stronger at the end of it. Now Real are simultaneously delaying the future with Kroos and Modric, being forced into it by Benzema’s departure and preparing almost perfectly for it. They seem to have the midfield for the 2020s. If, in due course, Bellingham is joined at the Bernabeu by either Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, they may have the forward for the decade, too. Read More Jude Bellingham to become the eighth Brit to play for Real Madrid Lionel Messi to Inter Miami: Apple deal, MLS contract, salary, debut and everything we know The trick that made Erling Haaland the ultimate finisher – in more ways than one

Manchester City reached the pinnacle of the European game with victory in the Champions League final on Saturday, which also saw them complete the treble. Here, the PA news agency looks at what could come next for the club. Could this be the first of many European triumphs for City? The club will certainly hope so. While winning the Champions League may have been a long-held ambition and the culmination of everything hitherto done in a now 15-year project under Abu Dhabi ownership, it was not a one-off target. The club have advanced considerably on and off the field and they intend to establish themselves firmly among the continent’s heavyweights. Winning every season is obviously not realistic but they want reaching the latter stages each time to become the norm. Will Pep Guardiola carry on at the helm? The inspirational Catalan has been the central factor in City’s success. The club identified Guardiola as the man to bring them European glory long before they even appointed him and their set-up is tailored to him. Their trust in him has paid off handsomely and they will naturally want him to stay as long as possible. There is uncertainty as Guardiola has never favoured long-term commitments. All his contract renewals at City have been relatively short. After winning the Champions League there is a feeling he could see his business as done when his current deal expires in 2025. On the other hand, he does seem firmly wedded to the City project and spoke on Saturday of not wanting the club to win one Champions League “and disappear”. City fans can expect at least a couple more campaigns from him. Will he need to reshape the team? With the way City have charged through the closing stages of the season to sweep up three trophies, there would seem little reason to make major changes. A specialist left-back would be desirable after Joao Cancelo left on loan in January and seems likely to move on, but that position has been a recurring problem throughout Guardiola’s tenure and has hardly hindered them. Some new signings may be necessary if the influential pair of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva leave. Gundogan is out of contract this summer and yet to commit while Silva is apparently open to a new challenge and could go if a suitable offer arrived. City are hopeful both will stay, however. Other than that, there seem no pressing issues. Can they maintain their standards? It would surely be impossible for City to remain at the same level they have been this season. Last year Liverpool produced a very high standard and came within a whisker of winning the quadruple but, after their exertions took their toll, fell away this term. City will be anxious to ensure any downturn is not as dramatic. Five Premier League titles in six years, however, suggests Guardiola has a good idea how to prevent this. There is an elephant in the room though isn’t there? Yes. The Premier League’s Financial Fair Play investigation into City may be out of sight at times but it has not gone away. City are facing more than 100 charges for alleged rule breaches. This could loom over them for some considerable time but, with little clarity over the process or the nature of the charges, it will be business as usual in the meantime. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Zach Mercer and Danny Care included in England World Cup training squad Football rumours: Wilfried Zaha eyes move to Paris St Germain On this day in 2019: Chris Froome ruled out of Tour de France after crash

What the papers say Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha could move to French giants Paris St Germain on a free transfer this summer, the Sun reports. The 30-year-old scored seven goals in 27 games for Crystal Palace in all competitions last season and is reportedly attracting interest from the Ligue 1 champions. After securing the signature of Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool are looking to add more strength to their midfield with the club linked with Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, the Mirror said. The 28-year-old is in high-demand across the Premier League after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship. Chelsea are weighing up a deal with Champions League runners up Inter Milan, according to the Sun. The Blues are reportedly offering the Italian club Romelu Lukaku, who is currently there on loan, and Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly as they look to sign Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana. Social media round-up Players to watch James Maddison: Newcastle United are said to be narrowly in front of Tottenham in the battle to secure the 26-year-old Leicester midfielder, valued at £40million, Sky Sports report. David Raya: Brentford’s Spanish goalkeeper is weighing up offers from Tottenham and Manchester United, with Spurs reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with the 27-year-old, according to Goal.com. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

It was a big recruiting weekend for college football powers Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State with commits and predictions galore following official visits.While the recruiting class of 2024 will be in the spotlight in December and next February on National Signing Day, the real work on the recru...

Pep Guardiola’s joy at winning the Champions League may have been trumped by a message of congratulations from one of his idols Julia Roberts. Manchester City said on social media that “@PepTeam will be buzzing at this!” after Hollywood star Roberts used Instagram to applaud the Spaniard for masterminding Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Inter Milan. “Congratulations @pepteam for leading your team to be UCL champions. #pep #soccermom” said the Ocean’s Twelve and Pretty Woman actor. It is the acknowledgement that Guardiola has been desperately seeking after he revealed in March the angst caused when Roberts once chose to visit Manchester United rather than watch his City team. “If I win the Champions League three times in a row I will be a failure,” said Guardiola after RB Leipzig had been thrashed 7-0 to secure a place in the quarter-finals. “I have three idols in my life. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols. “Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester – not in the 90s when Sir Alex (Ferguson) was winning titles and titles and titles. She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right? “And she went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us. That’s why even if I win the Champions League it will not compare for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn’t come to see us. “Even if I win the Champions League it will not compare to this disappointment I had.” Gareth Southgate believes England can benefit from Manchester City’s clinching the Champions League for the first time. Southgate has included five members of Pep Guardiola’s side in his squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, with John Stones, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips all due to join up with the squad after enjoying their celebrations. With City’s success coming after Declan Rice lifted the Europa Conference League with West Ham earlier in the week, Southgate said it can be good for the national team. “It’s absolutely brilliant for all our guys who have been involved,” boss Southgate said in a video on England’s social media. “To start with Declan, his first experience of lifting a trophy so… fabulous for him. You can see the emotion having been at the club for so long and what it meant to him. “Then the boys at Manchester City have had a phenomenal season, an absolutely incredible season, and of course that’s been the Holy Grail for them to get this final trophy that they hadn’t won up until now. “I’m delighted for all of them. It’s great to see them enjoying themselves and also it’s brilliant for us as a group. “We’ve got so many experiences now of individual players winning big trophies, and that’s so important for our development as a team. It’s fantastic on all counts.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Tottenham progressing in bid to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya Sir Alastair Cook strikes 74th first-class century as Essex dominate Somerset French Open day 15: Major history for Djokovic, third final defeat for Ruud

Manchester City’s match-winner Rodri has been named Champions League player of the year by UEFA as seven City players made the team of the season and Erling Haaland took goal of the season honours. Rodri’s 68th-minute strike made the difference as City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul to lift the European Cup and complete a remarkable treble. And on Sunday the 26-year-old was named player of the season by UEFA’s technical observer panel. Rodri played in all but one of City’s Champions League matches this season, with Saturday’s match-winner his second goal in the tournament this campaign. The Spain midfielder was joined by six club mates in the team of the season as Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker were all included. Inter’s Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni were also selected along with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and forward Vinicius Junior. City also scooped the goal of the season award through Haaland for his acrobatic strike against former club Borussia Dortmund during the group stages, when he twisted to turn Joao Cancelo’s curling pass into the net during City’s 2-1 win. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

It’s the return of Soccer Aid tonight at Old Trafford as England take on the World XI in a bid to raise millions of pounds for charity. England Euros winner Jill Scott captains the England team under the management of Harry Redknapp, with Paddy McGuinness, Sir Mo Farah and Gary Neville among her teammates for the home side. The World XI will be led by Usain Bolt after glory last year, with Lee Mack, Roberto Carlos and Tommy Fury all featuring for a team led by the new Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino. The annual charity football match, created by Robbie Williams in 2006, sells tickets in support of Unicef UK. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Soccer Aid 2023? Soccer Aid is set to kick off at 7.30pm BST on Sunday 11 June at Old Trafford in Manchester. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the charity match on ITV 1, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm. Soccer Aid will also be available to view on STV, or via ITVX online. What are the line ups? England Jill Scott (c) Paddy McGuinness Jermain Defoe Karen Carney Gary Cahill Jack Wilshere Bugzy Malone Tom Grennan Sir Mo Farah Alex Brooker Gary Neville Paul Scholes Chunkz Joel Corry Eni Aluko David James Scarlette Douglas Nicky Butt Liam Payne Danny Dyer Asa Butterfield Tom Hiddleston Coaches Stormzy Emma Hayes Vicky McClure Harry Redknapp David Seaman Soccer Aid World XI FC Usain Bolt (c) Lee Mack Steven Bartlett Kem Cetinay Mo Gilligan Maisie Adam Tommy Fury Heather O’Reilly Kalyn Kyle Noah Beck Ben Foster Roberto Carlos Nani Francesco Totti Gabriel Batistuta Leon Edwards Sam Claflin Hernan Crespo Patrice Evra Niko Coach Mauricio Pochettino Robbie Keane Martin Compston Mel C How much does Soccer Aid raise for charity? Soccer Aid 2022, which was held at the London Stadium, raised £15,673,728 for Unicef, the highest tally in the event’s history. Read More Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came to buy a club they’d never heard of Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest build-up starring Gary Neville, Liam Payne, Niko and Danny Dyer When is the Women’s World Cup and what are the fixtures? Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest score and updates Soccer Aid 2023: England and World XI starting line-ups Man City match-winner Rodri named Champions League player of the year

Soccer Aid is back with England looking for revenge against the World XI after going down on penalties last year. Comedian Lee Mack struck the winning penalty for the World XI, who won the contest for a fourth straight year after a 2-2 over 90 minutes. The biggest charity football match in the world, which raised more than £15 million for charity Unicef last year, brings an added layer of intrigue this year with the new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino back in the dugout ahead of his return to the club game with the Blues. This year’s teams include Gary Neville, Liam Payne, Jill Scott, Sir Mo Farah and Danny Dyer for England. While Mack is joined by Usain Bolt, Tommy Fury, Niko, Roberto Carlos, Francesco Totti and Patrice Evra for the World XI. Follow live updates, reaction and analysis from all the action at Old Trafford below: Read More What time is Soccer Aid 2023? Kick-off for Wembley showpiece between England and World XI Soccer Aid 2023: England and World XI line-ups How to watch Soccer Aid 2023: TV Channel and live stream for Wembley showpiece tonight

Soccer Aid is back as England take on the World XI in Manchester this weekend, bringing celebrities from the sporting world and beyond together to again raise significant money for charity. The annual charity football match, created by Robbie Williams in 2006, sees a host of former footballers and famous faces from other industries come together in support of Unicef UK. Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott has been named as England’s captain this year, with the likes of Paddy McGuinness, Sir Mo Farah and Gary Neville among her teammates and Emma Hayes, Stormzy and Harry Redknapp coaching the side Meanwhile, the Soccer Aid World XI FC will be led by Olympic legend Usain Bolt, with the fastest man in history continuing in the role after leading his side to victory last year, as Lee Mack, Roberto Carlos and Tommy Fury are also in the Mauricio Pochettino-managed side. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Soccer Aid 2023? Soccer Aid is set to kick off at 7.30pm BST on Sunday 11 June at Old Trafford in Manchester. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the charity match on ITV 1, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm. Soccer Aid will also be available to view on STV, or via ITVX online. What are the line ups? England starting line-up 3-4-3: David James; Gary Neville, Gary Cahill, Bugzy Malone; Joel Corry, Jill Scott (c), Jack Wilshere, Tom Hiddleston; Liam Payne, Jermain Defoe, Tom Grennan England squad Jill Scott (c) Paddy McGuinness Jermain Defoe Karen Carney Gary Cahill Jack Wilshere Bugzy Malone Tom Grennan Sir Mo Farah Alex Brooker Gary Neville Paul Scholes Chunkz Joel Corry Eni Aluko David James Scarlette Douglas Nicky Butt Liam Payne Danny Dyer Asa Butterfield Tom Hiddleston Coaches Stormzy Emma Hayes Vicky McClure Harry Redknapp David Seaman Soccer Aid World XI startline line-up 4-2-4: Ben Foster; Heather O'Reilly, Sam Claflin, Roberto Carlos, Mo Gilligan; Noah Beck, Patrice Evra; Maisie Adam, Francesco Totti, Hernan Crespo, Usain Bolt Soccer AidWorld XI squad Usain Bolt (c) Lee Mack Steven Bartlett Kem Cetinay Mo Gilligan Maisie Adam Tommy Fury Heather O’Reilly Kalyn Kyle Noah Beck Ben Foster Roberto Carlos Nani Francesco Totti Gabriel Batistuta Leon Edwards Sam Claflin Hernan Crespo Patrice Evra Niko Coach Mauricio Pochettino Robbie Keane Martin Compston Mel C How much does Soccer Aid raise for charity? Soccer Aid 2022, which was held at the London Stadium, raised £15,673,728 for Unicef, the highest tally in the event’s history. Read More Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came to buy a club they’d never heard of Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest build-up starring Gary Neville, Liam Payne, Niko and Danny Dyer When is the Women’s World Cup and what are the fixtures? Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest score and updates What time is Soccer Aid 2023? Kick-off for Wembley showpiece How to watch Soccer Aid 2023: TV Channel for Wembley showpiece

Jude Bellingham and Lewis Dunk have been ruled out of England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Real Madrid-bound Bellingham is still suffering with the hamstring injury that sidelined him for Borussia Dortmund’s heart-breaking season finale, when they let slip the Bundesliga title by drawing 2-2 at home to Mainz. The 19-year-old midfielder will report to St George’s Park to receive further treatment, but will play no part in either match, a team statement confirmed. Brighton defender Dunk has withdrawn from the squad through injury and will not travel to the national football centre – the only player from Gareth Southgate’s original 25-man squad who is not now due to join up. England players began to gather at St George’s Park on Sunday, preparing for Friday’s trip to face Malta in Ta’ Qali and Monday’s fixture against North Macedonia at Old Trafford. West Ham’s Declan Rice, who lifted the Europa Conference League trophy in midweek, will join in the coming days, as will the five players from Manchester City’s Champions League-winning squad. Jack Grealish, John Stones, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are all expected to be part of City’s bus parade in Manchester on Monday before reporting for duty. In a video posted on England’s social media accounts on Sunday, Southgate said: “We’ve a little less training than we would have liked but today was an important session in terms of players getting back into their football movements. “They all keep themselves in good shape but you’re not training with the team in that period and you have to adapt your body back to the rhythm… “We’ll get the players through today so they’re ready to go tomorrow and then we start the more tactical preparation for the game with Malta. “I think what we’ve shown in the last few months is that we’re a team who now can take on some of the best teams in the world. “We showed that in the World Cup and we definitely showed that by winning in Naples (the 2-1 win over Italy in March), which was a really important game for us not only in terms of qualification but in terms of our confidence and setting some markers for what we are as a team. “If you’re a really big team you nail those big games and then you don’t slip up with the teams you are expected to beat and that’s the challenge for us now. “We’re at the end of the season, we’ve had a lot of different distractions. There’s any number of reasons or excuses if you search for them but we can’t have a team looking for excuses. “We want to consistently perform at a high level and we have to start that from the minute the players arrive.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Novak Djokovic claims record-breaking 23rd grand slam title at French Open Rodri relishes scoring ‘most important goal’ in history of Manchester City Man City clinching European crown ‘absolutely brilliant’ for England – Southgate

Rodri recognises he may have scored the most important goal in Manchester City’s history. The Spanish midfielder tucked home City’s winner as they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final and completed the treble in Istanbul on Saturday. The 26-year-old now hopes City can build on winning the European crown for the first time to establish a long-lasting dynasty. Rodri, who has developed into one of the world’s best midfielders since his £62.8million move from Atletico Madrid four years ago, said: “From my point of view I want to thank the team. It’s a victory of many years of work at this amazing club. “They trusted me to come here, even though the change wasn’t easy. It was a new culture for me and I arrive now scoring the most important goal in the history of this club. “We deserve this. What a season. We deserve it. “I said this before the game it was so important to win against Inter because we can build a legacy for the future. This is what teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, AC Milan – these kind of clubs – did in the past. “We believe we can do it again. I think that’s why it’s so important.” City were not at their sparkling best at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. With Inter proving obdurate opponents, City could not replicate the swashbuckling football that swept aside Arsenal and Real Madrid recently, or even reproduce the control they exerted over Manchester United in the FA Cup final. They instead relied on their character and quality and Rodri eventually made the crucial breakthrough in the 68th minute with a controlled strike from just inside the area. Rodri said: “I think it was the only time I went forward in the game because Inter were so narrow and I wanted to make sure the two strikers weren’t comfortable. “In that moment I just saw the space. In the first moment I thought about shooting strong but then I realised there were six or seven players in the goal area and I was like, ‘no, I’m going to put it inside the first post’. “The end result was incredible but there was half an hour still to go so it was a big effort from all of us.” The goal capped a memorable season in which City retained the Premier League – their fifth title success in six years – and beat arch-rivals United at Wembley to claim the FA Cup. They are only the second side to win all three of those trophies in the same season, emulating United’s achievement in 1999. Their success was savoured by owner Sheikh Mansour, who had travelled to Turkey to watch a City game in person for only the second time since he purchased the club in 2008. The sheikh’s backing has propelled City from mid-table in the Premier League to the top of the European game and Rodri was keen to pay tribute to the players that paved the way for their success. He said: “I said when I finished the game I don’t want to forget players like Fernandinho, Sergio (Aguero), David Silva, (Vincent) Kompany – many players who worked eight, nine, 10 years at this club to help it arrive at this level. “We take the fruits (of their labour) and this victory is for all of them.” City partied overnight at their hotel in Istanbul before leaving for home on Sunday afternoon. They were flown back to Manchester on a club-liveried Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The celebrations will continue on Monday as they hold an open-top bus parade through Manchester city centre.

Uefa are facing more pressure about their ability to stage major events, as another Champions League final descended into “dangerous” chaos, and supporters complained that the situation again put their safety at risk. Among a series of serious issues faced at Istanbul’s highly criticised Ataturk Stadium for Manchester City’s victory over Internazionale were: Supporters forced to travel on shuttles for up to three hours without water or toilets A total lack of guidance and minimal travel options post-game, which left elderly fans and those in wheelchairs to traverse a mile of slip road in order to hail down gridlocked taxis, which charged up to €200 (£171) Only two concession stands for an entire end of fans, creating waits for simple cartons of water for up to two hours Fewer than 20 toilets serving 20,000 people in the fan zones Fans having to abandon transport and climb over scrubland and “building site” surroundings to make kick-off The organisation of the event has been described by attending fans as a “dangerous mess”, with supporters incredulous at how a major event in 2023 could be held in such a poorly-equipped stadium more than 12.4 miles (20km) from the city centre. One of the problems that immediately became visible was that the Ataturk really only has two access routes from a notoriously congested city infrastructure, a narrow road system and a recently built metro. Both inevitably became completely gridlocked as early as six hours before the 10pm kick-off with the problem getting worse three hours after the game ended. Some stories involve supporters vomiting on the two-hour-plus shuttle trips due to the lack of water, and people bursting into tears due to the stress from waiting so long to go to the toilet. Questions have been raised within the game about how and why the Ataturk Stadium was selected, especially as president Recep Erdogan has been so keen to host major football events for so long. As one prominent football figure confided to TheIndependent: “No way should this stadium be hosting a Champions League final.” The problem was all the worse given that Istanbul’s staging of the final was already postponed twice in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, which should have allowed ample preparation time. The Istanbul final follows the near-disaster that was the 2022 final at Paris’s Stade de France involving Liverpool and Real Madrid, which prompted a wide-ranging and excoriating review from Uefa. The European governing body has been contacted for comment but sources within the organisation insist that the review made a series of recommendations they are continuing to act on. It was in the aftermath of Paris that Uefa signed a memorandum of understanding with Football Supporters Europe, and the representative group was an active party in site visits to the Ataturk prior to the final. While sources insist the venue “seemed OK” on those visits, fans have been amazed that it was deemed a suitable venue given how obvious the travel issues alone were. A number of people came forward to The Independent to explain the worrying chronology of the day, such was the concern with what happened. Nick Stapleton, a City season ticket holder and freelance journalist first introduced to the club as a child by his father, the longtime TV presenter John Stapleton who has been a fan since the 1950s. They could sense issues developing early in the day. One of the immediate complications was that Uefa had advised Inter supporters to travel by metro and City by shuttle. “There was already a huge queue for the buses at 4pm and there were no facilities at all, which we were warned about,” Nick Stapleton said. “So we brought water and prepared for the fact there wasn’t a loo. But we were stood there in the heat for 45 minutes and when we eventually got on the buses, police and stewards took our water off us as we couldn’t bring anything from outside into the stadium. “Our bus took two hours but others took three, with no water or toilets for all that time. One guy threw up on the bus because of the heat, with that then spilling around the surface. Others were so desperate for the toilet that they were peeing out windows and gaps, and we were told of another bus where someone had to demand the driver pull over.” The long travel time for a journey that can usually take 40 minutes was because of complete gridlock around the stadium. Metros were also over-capacity at least five hours before kick-off. Ger Gilroy, an Irish broadcaster, was one of many who had to resort to desperate alternatives. “We had to abandon our minibus and scale a steep briar-infested scrubland to make it in time for kick-off,” he said. “Before we got there we had to shimmy down a stone wall and jump over an open sewer!” A number of those attending complained that the “horrible logistics” around the stadium even after arriving were just not fit for purpose, with too few signposts or even access routes. A common line, articulated by Mr Stapleton, was that it was “a building site”. One elderly fan, who declined to be named, said he had to walk 6km around the stadium to get to their entry point. Inter fans, meanwhile, found that metro stations closest to the stadium were eventually closed due to congestion. Mr Stapleton, whose father is 77 and recently had a hip operation, encountered similar difficulties. “The first thing we did when we arrived was go to the fan zone for the loos. Dad was already feeling the heat, and feeling frail and tired. But the loos were just a collection of caravans, maybe 10-15 toilets for 20,000 people. “Female fans couldn’t just pee on the fence, so they were queuing for an hour. One woman told me she burst into tears at one point as she was so desperate. We then went into the stadium around 7.30pm, although a bottleneck already started to build up as there was a bag search, ticket check and pat-down search again. At that point it was fine, so I said to Dad he should go and sit down and I’d get water. We hadn’t had any since ours was taken off us three hours prior. We also hadn’t had food. “We were in block 333, the far left side of the lower tier, where 10 to 15,000 of City’s 20,000 fans were. There were only two concession stands – two – with six people serving each, and only four card machines. This was an event sponsored by Mastercard and had four machines, and one of those broke down. That meant it took me one hour and 45 minutes to buy water. People were going mad. I felt for the guys running the stall, as they were completely overwhelmed. It then cost almost €50 for two pieces of cheap meat, two cartons of water and a bottle of Pepsi. “The game itself was an incredible experience. My Dad was crying at the final whistle, and it was amazing to experience it with him. But that’s part of it as regards any incentive to change. Loyal football fans are always going to go through hell and high water for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching your club win the Champions League. After the players lifted the trophy, we made our way out of the ground about 1pm, expecting the same system as before the game.” It was here when the worst problems actually began, though. One individual who was among the party for Inter players’ families, but declined to be named for reasons of discretion, explained the situation at their end. He said: “Our exit from the stadium was dangerous. Everyone was filtering through one small exit, which wasn’t big enough for two people to pass through. Thousands were trying to get through this, and then onto crumbling steps into the car park. From there, families were walking down the sides of motorways trying to find cabs. It was dangerous.” Mr Stapleton found the same experience from the other side. “What emerged when we got to the waiting area was there was no help, only a few signs, and the two buses for our area were already full. Loads of City fans were confused, not knowing what was going on. “There was also gridlock due to a huge queue of taxis coming and buses trying to get out. The road was only so wide, with two cars door to door if they tried to go through at the same time. Nobody seemed to be taking any control of this. “So even people on the buses were stuck there until 3am. We were among thousands of City fans walking down the motorway and picking our way through traffic, a lot of them elderly or even in wheelchairs. This was another thing as the stadium was not really wheelchair-accessible. “This was not safe, and my dad did not seem comfortable. He was exhausted, and when you have a hip replacement one of the big risks is a fall as you need to have it reconstructed. When we eventually found a taxi, one wanted €200 to take us back. A second said €100 and we took it as we were scared and in a bit of a panic. “So many fans were in the same situation. Istanbul is a great city but I don’t understand why they chose to send us to that stadium, it’s insane. When it’s that much of a challenge to even have water.” Uefa, Football Supporters Europe, Manchester City and Internazionale have been approached for comment. 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