Moscow

[anfieldanfield]

is there another way bar flying???? road trip??

Maybe flying to Estonia or Latvia and taking the train to Moscow would be a little bit cheaper and much more fun. Dunno. I'll check it out if we get a good result on Wednesday.

Anyone remember when Shaggy and his friends thought they were going to DRIVE to Athens for the final last May ?!

[enema of the state]

I have which is why I think it is a despicable thing to bring up.

If you dont want to talk about your experiences thats up to you and that i could respect. I and the many lfc fans i know who were at hysel and sheffield dont shy from talking about it nor from sharing what is to be learned from it

if you think its "despicable" for someone else to bring up the subject, or to say that what youve learned from it carries some weight, then i wont even bother to be insulting about your view...it speaks for itself

[BFG]

It will be a world showcase for modern, capitalist russia

the government will ENSURE it passes off smoothly

they know who their troublemakers are. I dont see them being allowed anywhere near the "tourists"

Have to agree with this.

Russia won't police the final with a heavy hand. It wouldn't suit the image they are trying to project of themselves globally at the moment and if there are gangs of nutters looking for a fight they will be more than equipped to deal with that out there.

[Tinkerbitch]

I was going to keep out of this but I have to stick my nose in and agree with you Bitch

Which is why i won't be continuing what could loosely be called the "debate"

[bonzai]

just got my e-mail to say I've got 2 cat 1 tickets! All we need to do now is get there!

[enema of the state]

Have to agree with this.

Russia won't police the final with a heavy hand. It wouldn't suit the image they are trying to project of themselves globally at the moment and if there are gangs of nutters looking for a fight they will be more than equipped to deal with that out there.

anyone whos been there would agree.

I dont actually know where the hysteria about potential trouble out there originates. Ive read a little exageration in the papers but I think its probably just a few internet posters wheeling out their yearly "there'll be a bloodbath if 2 english teams make the final spiel "

Weve come a long way since 1985. The champions league final is very up market compared to the then european cup. UEFA do their homework and ground safety is a key parameter but crowd control is another. Russian crowd control is every bit as good as our own here in Britain imo. I have more concerns about rome in 2009. an lfc v scum final there really would have the potential for people to die. youd have a triple whammy of psychopathic local ultras, hated rival teams and incompetent and vicious police. moscow (or say wembley) would only score 1 of 3 of those.

[calvoboy]

anyone whos been there would agree.

I dont actually know where the hysteria about potential trouble out there originates. Ive read a little exageration in the papers but I think its probably just a few internet posters wheeling out their yearly "there'll be a bloodbath if 2 english teams make the final spiel "

Weve come a long way since 1985. The champions league final is very up market compared to the then european cup. UEFA do their homework and ground safety is a key parameter but crowd control is another.

By contrast, anyone who was in Athens would understand exactly why the potential for trouble is huge, and why the statement that "UEFA do their homework and ground safety and crowd control are key parameters" is utter nonsense. Athens was an organisational shambles. This was exacerbated by an element of our fans who did not behave as they should have done, to the extent that Chris Bascombe wrote an article afterwards suggesting that it might be as well if we didn't make it to Moscow. Add the Mancs into the mix and the potential for trouble is huge. The trouble at Utd vs Liverpool games has been escalating for years now, and I've been there twice when innocent fans have been attacked leaving Old Trafford. You are right that things are not as bad as they were in the 70s and 80s, but they are certainly much much worse than they were in the 90s.

The final being in Moscow is neither here nor there (though I still think the Russian police would be more "robust" in the face of any trouble than ours would, and the political situation won't help if anyone gets arrested) - the point is that things have been escalating for a couple of years now, UEFA cannot be trusted to organise things properly, and a LFC vs Mancs final is a potential tinderbox. It is slightly misleading to paint Moscow quite as rosily as you do though, given that Welsh fans were attacked in Red Square by 400 fans throwing flares in 2003 (see here for the BBC report - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3273621.stm), and England fans were attacked there last year ahead of the Euro qualifier. Not forgetting the infamous riots when Russia were knocked out of the European Championships in 2002.

I'm sure that Moscow is a fantastic place to visit, and to live in, and I am hoping to get there to see for myself in the next year or so. Having been in Istanbul and Athens though, and having been to Old Trafford a couple of times recently, and given the huge expense of getting there, I think I'll give it a miss if we play the Mancs in the final.

[RedProf]

Imagine losing to them in a European Cup Final though. It doesn't bear thinking about.

I think this is probably the main reason I couldn't go if it was us vs them. I remember how abject I was after we lost to Milan and the wait in the airport the next day was sheer torture...........i just wanted to be back home. Never mind being there with thousands of gloating Mancs.

I also didn't have a ticket in Athens and it made the trip miserable from start to finish. The legwork I put in the day before and on the day hunting for tickets.......I must have walked 26 miles! It spoilt the event for me (you could have worked that one out before going you will say) but I was determined then to go after missing out on Istanbul. I wouldn't fancy trawling round Moscow for a ticket like I did in Athens as I've now seen just how much people sell their tickets for and there's not a chance I would pay such extortionate fees.

I tend to agree with those who think it will be well policed. I am not sure there will be a blood bath there, it seems a lot of folk expect it wherever we go and it doesn't materialise. Of course, agains the Mancs, I am certain certain factions of supporters will kick off, but as has been said, that would happen anywhere, not just in Moscow.

And yes, I do remember Shaggy and his plan to drive there! I hope he changes his mind and does the drive to Moscow, it would be some road trip and would make a great blog I'm sure. But then again, he'd have to leave his house

Should we make the final, this year I'll be heading into Liverpool and I am sure it will be just as much fun as it was in 2005.

[kop-al-74]

Al, forgive me but that is total crap: I am a Brit that lives in Moscow for more than 12 years now and I can personally tell you that Moscow is NOT unsafe; in fact it 100 times safer than the UK at present.

And if we do get to the final I'll be only to pleased to give any traveling support a helping hand for places to drink/eat or even watch the match for those traveling without tickets. Even here we have a big Reds Following (pardon the pun..lol)

After reading the thread more fully I must say that most of you haven't got a bloody clue, sorry guys but you're talking out of you backsides and certainly have not the first idea of what Russia is really like.
Respect to you E.O.T.S you seem to be the only person with a reasonable insight, so far.

Just what i have been told.I bow to your greater knowledge and personal experience on all things Moscow.

In the event that we play in the final,i will watch from the comfort of my living room with my 7 year old just like we did Istanbul.

Hopefully with same outcome

[neilt]

I said in Athens that I wouldn't be going to Moscow if we made it. UEFA confirmed that double this lunchtime.

But in any case, for others thinking about it, what's the deal on fans without tickets even getting into Russia without the right paperwork?

I'm sure club and UEFA ticket holders will be looked after (perhaps like in Istanbul - just show your match ticket at immigration and get a free visa). But if you are travelling without tickets I imagine you'll have to start applying for that visa now...

"Getting a Russian Visa: Step by Step Guide

Every foreigner needs a visa to go to Russia. In order to get it, you need to get an invitation (aka visa support letter) from Russia first and then apply for the visa at the Russian consulate. You can also have a local agent do all this for you. Be careful, however, because some agents and hotels "lock" people into a fixed itinerary or limit their visa validity to the period they're staying at the particular hote"

http://www.waytorussia.net/Travel/VisaSupport.html

[Shanks]

just got my e-mail to say I've got 2 cat 1 tickets! All we need to do now is get there!

Just got mine to say

We are sorry to inform you that, as a result of the lottery process, your ticket Application with the Customer reference number: ***** for the UEFA Champions League Final 2008 has not been successful.

Best regards,




Best ****in regards!!

I payed by Mastercard aswell you *******s..

[MosRay]

Getting a Russian Visa: Step by Step Guide

Every foreigner needs a visa to go to Russia. In order to get it, you need to get an invitation (aka visa support letter) from Russia first and then apply for the visa at the Russian consulate. You can also have a local agent do all this for you. Be careful, however, because some agents and hotels "lock" people into a fixed itinerary or limit their visa validity to the period they're staying at the particular hote"
http://www.waytorussia.net/Travel/VisaSupport.html

Allow me to clarify the Visa situation a tourist visa can be acquired by simply booking hotel accommodation here in Russia..

The hotel send you confirmation of your booking and payment and send the Russian Embassy a Fax/telex to confirm paid accommodation for duration of stay (tourist visa is only valid for the duration of booked accommodation to a maximum of 1 month) You are able to arrange this personally or by using your local T/A.

Other than tourist Visas, you could apply for 3month single/double entry, but will require a official invitation from M.I.S (immigration service) - which can only be obtained through an accredited company here in Russia. As is 6month and 12month Multi entry Visas.

All visas can be issued the same day or within 24hours(fast track), or up to 7 days depending on amount you pay..

As I have a Tourism background and also live here in Moscow, if there are any other questions you might need clarifying please PM me..

Ray:

[G]

Just got mine to say

We are sorry to inform you that, as a result of the lottery process, your ticket Application with the Customer reference number: ***** for the UEFA Champions League Final 2008 has not been successful.

Best regards,




Best ****in regards!!

I payed by Mastercard aswell you *******s..

When exactly do they start taking applications for the lottery each year?

[El Diego]

How do I find out if I have been successful or not I might have deleted the email.

[Shanks]

When exactly do they start taking applications for the lottery each year?

I believe it to be the 28th February for this year.

How do I find out if I have been successful or not I might have deleted the email.

You can log in to the UEFA website mate and check.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/ticketing/newsid=664977.html