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Manchester United have beaten Chelsea in the Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out, after the match ended 1-1 after extra time. About 40,000 British supporters packed the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the game - the first all-English final in the tournament's history. Many fans had gathered in the city's famous Red Square during the day. UK police have travelled to Moscow to assist their local counterparts and prevent any trouble after the game. Police spokesman Yevgeny Gildeyev said more than 6,000 police had formed three giant security cordons around the stadium. The only apparent trouble so far came a few hours before the game, when a dozen young Russians reportedly threw glass bottles at Chelsea fans who were drinking outside a popular bar. 'Bit late' Ahead of the game, fans took in the sights of Red Square and queued to view the Champions League trophy which was on display. BBC Moscow correspondent James Rodgers said the UK fans had been joined by Russian supporters keen to meet their British counterparts. He said the match was "a huge event for Moscow", adding: "It's clear that to Russia this match is not just a game. It's a chance to prove itself as a venue for international sporting events." Some fans complained about difficulties getting around the city, with delays caused by traffic congestion and long queues to check in to hotels - despite efforts by the Russian authorities to ease their way, with special buses and bus lanes to ensure fans do not get caught in rush hour jams.
United supporter Jim Wilson, 43, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, complained that Moscow authorities had not done enough to help travelling fans. He added: "Nobody speaks English and there were no signs in English, on the underground or anywhere else." Chelsea fan Gary Millis, 49, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, said he was also finding it difficult to make his way around the city. "I think they've left everything a bit late, in terms of their planning - they've known for ages that the match would be played here," he said. While thousands of fans flew to Moscow on charter flights from the UK, others made the journey via other cities such as Helsinki, to cut flight costs. But one charter flight from Gatwick Airport to Moscow was cancelled on Wednesday because of a technical problem with the aircraft, leaving 224 Chelsea fans unable to travel to the match.
One fan speaks of his Gatwick nightmare Manchester United are bidding to become European champions for the third time, while it is Chelsea's first appearance in the final. Eighteen specialist UK police officers - two from the national football policing unit and eight each from the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - are in Moscow. Their role is to act as "spotters" to try to prevent any English fans causing trouble or engaging in anti-social behaviour. Fans have described the policing so far as "relaxed". Speaking from Moscow, Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick said: "Although GMP officers have no powers of arrest abroad and ultimate responsibility for policing the game lies with the Russian authorities, we have been gathering intelligence on potential and known troublemakers, and GMP officers will be in Moscow in an advisory role." She urged supporters to follow the advice being given - do not travel without a legitimately-purchased ticket, use the official transport provided to the stadium and be mindful of personal safety. The Met said a number of officers with specialist knowledge of Chelsea followers who posed a risk would be acting in support of local police. Stand-by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "We know who the main troublemakers are and if any try to travel to Russia they will be arrested and dealt with by the full weight of the law."
Fans were not allowed to travel to the game from British airports unless they had a match ticket, their passport and a flight ticket. The Russian authorities had laid on a fleet of 700 buses to transport fans directly from airports to supporter "camps", then on to the stadium for the game. There were no big screens erected to enable those who did make it to Moscow without tickets to view the match. Alcohol consumption is banned in all public areas in Moscow and supporters face arrest if they drink in the street. | |||||
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