The UEFA Champions League final is Europe's answer to the Super Bowl. The site of the big game is picked years in advance, and fans usually have to shell out thousands for tickets and travel.Unlike the Super Bowl, however, this year's Champions League final in Moscow faces a huge obstacle -- issuing upwards of 45,000 visas to English fans to allow them to enter Russia. In three weeks.
While the British press is predicting doom and gloom -- what else is new? -- Russian authorities are doing everything they can to simplify the process for Manchester United and Chelsea fans who want to see the game live at Luzhniki Olympic Stadium. In addition, the Moscow City Council has launched an ambitious plan to transport fans into and out of Moscow on the day of the final. According to the BBC, that plan involves more than 200 aircraft, 900 buses, and thousands of prayers to various deities that nothing goes wrong.
If this Champions League final ends up being played in a half-empty stadium, not even Steve McClaren's umbrella will be big enough to protect UEFA boss Michel Platini from the pouring rain of I-told-you-sos. Good luck, Moscow. You're gonna need it.
UPDATE (12:35 PM): The New York Times is reporting that Russia will allow British fans to enter the country without visas.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Good luck Moscow & thankyou. Hey English root hard and enjoy the match but please keep cool after the game, our American press will only report and sensationalize any hoolaganism.
Posted at 1:37AM on May 6th 2008 by francis weber