The Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham has called out UEFA after Manchester City’s Champions League final victory.
Manchester City fans reportedly walked miles to reach the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Videos circulated on social media which saw both City and Inter fans walking on motorways.
Fans took to social media to share their experiences of the horrific traffic and experiences of getting to and from the stadium, despite the night going down in City folklore.
What a way to put a dampener on an incredible evening – 30,000 City fans emerge from the Atatürk at 1am local time to find no shuttle buses back to the city centre. It’s a six hour walk to Istanbul. You lot are fucking useless @UEFA
— Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) June 10, 2023
If I even make this game it’s a miracle, shuttles absolute shambles. Going the wrong way again, stuck in hours of traffic
— Ellie Johns (@ellieejohnss_) June 10, 2023
Speaking with BBC Radio Manchester Burnham said:
“UEFA – what a disgrace, leaving Manchester City fans to walk miles to the ground (in istanbul). No transport, nothing. We saw what they did in Paris that failed thousands and thousands of Liverpool supporters and Real Madrid supporters.
“Again, they pick grounds, I think, for games on the basis of politics or who they please. No regard for the arrangements of the travelling supporters. I saw pictures of Manchester City fans walking miles down roads. It’s not acceptable. UEFA, you’re a disgrace.
“You need to up your game and you need to treat people properly when they travel thousands of miles around the world and pay your ticket prices.”
Following which, he further added:
“This is a bureaucracy that makes absolute millions out of English football supporters but is never held to account. We need to call them out. They let down Manchester City supporters massively last weekend. And thankfully, it didn’t ruin their weekend.
“But, you know, they do it year after year to English football supporters and we’ve had enough of it. We need change from UEFA and I think we really should join forces and send that message loud and clear to them.”
