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Champions League: Liverpool and Spurs fans invade Madrid | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Thousands of Liverpool and Tottenham fans have descended on Madrid for the Champions League final. | Thousands of Liverpool and Tottenham fans have descended on Madrid for the Champions League final. |
The two Premier League sides will meet at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium on Saturday evening. | |
Many fans spent Friday making long, last-minute journeys from the UK, after both teams made remarkable comebacks in the semi-finals. | Many fans spent Friday making long, last-minute journeys from the UK, after both teams made remarkable comebacks in the semi-finals. |
Uefa said "an organised group of people impersonating genuine stewards" is behind a plot to steal match tickets. | |
They said the group's aim was to steal tickets "as if they were conducting the visual or technical ticket check". | |
Spurs and Liverpool fans are sharing 33,226 tickets for the final, which takes place at the 68,000-capacity home of Atletico Madrid. | |
Fans are asked to only show their tickets at clearly marked check zones outside the Wanda Metropolitano. | |
The UK government has issued travel advice those heading to the Spanish capital. | |
Spanish police have told English football fans to "behave like tourists", as an extra 1,300 officers were deployed to cope with the influx of supporters. | |
An acknowledgement from both sets of fans is that the Liverpool contingent is so far outnumbering that of their north London rivals. | An acknowledgement from both sets of fans is that the Liverpool contingent is so far outnumbering that of their north London rivals. |
Police said supporters had so far been well-behaved. | |
Officer Jose Ramon Carrasco said: "We understand they're going to be noisy, happy or singing or whatever - that's understandable. | |
"What's not understandable is maybe throwing bottles in the street, getting into fights. We don't accept that." | |
About 9,000 flights were estimated to have taken off from the UK on Friday, which would exceed the previous record of 8,854 set on 25 May last year, a day before Liverpool's appearance in the 2018 final. | |
Air traffic controller Nats has predicted an extra 800 flights over the weekend. | |
But some people have expressed frustration at a delay in getting their travel details through for chartered flights. | |
Thomas Cook said it had been awaiting the flight times from Madrid airport, but all passengers have now received their itineraries. | |
A company spokesman said the firm's six flights would arrive in Madrid at least six hours before the kick-off, allowing fans to "soak up the atmosphere". | |
To avoid flight issues, Anthony Gibson and three fellow Spurs-supporting friends from Northampton decided to drive the 1,100 miles (1,800km) to Madrid, setting off on Thursday evening. | |
"Living in Northampton, every Spurs game for us is an away game - this is the ultimate one," Mr Gibson said. | |
"I'm 42 and we have all had season tickets for 15 years. We've not had anything this big in our time. It's a once in a lifetime thing." | "I'm 42 and we have all had season tickets for 15 years. We've not had anything this big in our time. It's a once in a lifetime thing." |
Mr Gibson, said he and his friends were offered £15,000 for their four £60 tickets. | Mr Gibson, said he and his friends were offered £15,000 for their four £60 tickets. |
"Some people have asked if we are mad, especially my wife, but if you do not make the journey it's one of those things you will regret." | |
He said he had seen plenty of other Spurs fans on the roads of Europe bound for Madrid, including many who did not have match tickets. | |
Sisters Toni Moran and Collette Slater, "born and bred" Liverpool fans, flew to Madrid with family including a nephew who travelled from Sydney. | |
"There's a good atmosphere down here at the airport, it's lovely to see all the flags, everyone is really looking forward to the match," Ms Slater said. | "There's a good atmosphere down here at the airport, it's lovely to see all the flags, everyone is really looking forward to the match," Ms Slater said. |
Manchester Airport also had a message for fans flying from there, as shared on Twitter by Tracey Moore. | Manchester Airport also had a message for fans flying from there, as shared on Twitter by Tracey Moore. |
Other passengers have already noticed a lot of football fans as well, if Claire Petros' video is anything to go by. | Other passengers have already noticed a lot of football fans as well, if Claire Petros' video is anything to go by. |
Dr Petros, who is a part of her friend Pip Rowe's hen party, said her flight from Stansted to Madrid saw "lots of drinking" and chants but all was "positive and fun". | |
Another Liverpool fan, YouTuber Simon Wilson, is driving to Madrid in a car he bought for £40. | |
Spurs fan Nick Rabbits, an English journalist who works in Ireland, said seeing his team in a European final was too good an opportunity to miss. | Spurs fan Nick Rabbits, an English journalist who works in Ireland, said seeing his team in a European final was too good an opportunity to miss. |
"In the wake of our win in the semi-final I went immediately online," Mr Rabbits said. | "In the wake of our win in the semi-final I went immediately online," Mr Rabbits said. |
"All the cheap routes had been taken by Liverpool fans because they had a 24-hour head start, so I went for this one. | |
"Ask me on Sunday if it has been worth it," he said. | "Ask me on Sunday if it has been worth it," he said. |