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06th May 2008

Russia Agrees Manchester United Visa Deal for Champions League Final

Manchester United fans are one step closer to seeing their team play in the European Cup final after Russian authorities agreed to let fans with valid match tickets enter the country without a visa.

The news will come as a relief for around 42,000 ticket-holders who are planning to travel to Russia for the match. It also takes pressure off staff at the Russian Embassy, which has been frantically trying to issue visas in time for the final on the 21st May.

The deal allows Manchester United fans to use their tickets for the Moscow game as a visa substitute between 19 and 23 May. As well as their match ticket, fans will need to present a valid passport and an immigration form when they arrive in Russia. Anybody who overstays the 72-hour entry period will be charged the regular visa fee of £150 - £200 upon his or her departure.

The visa announcement is the result of discussions between Uefa president Michel Platini and the Russian government. Mr Platini labelled the announcement a “historical decision” and praised the Russian authorities for making the “exceptional and unprecedented” visa concession. He said: “This is great news for football fans travelling to watch this year's Uefa Champions League final in Moscow. Our job is to make sure that they are able to get to and from Moscow as easily as possible. I am therefore extremely pleased that at my request, all fans travelling with a valid match ticket can use this to enter Russian territory.” He then added, “For this I must thank wholeheartedly the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Russian government, the city of Moscow and the Football Union of Russia.”

There were fears that Britain’s ongoing diplomatic tension with Russia would hamper attempts to secure this ‘visa-free’ deal, particularly as Russian officials were thought to be annoyed at the visa restrictions imposed on their own nationals entering Britain.

In addition to this news, it is thought that Manchester United fans hoping to travel independently and without a match ticket should have their visas processed in time. Russia has said that it is dispatching six more members of staff to the Russian embassy in order to cope with the flood of visa applications. However, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have advised supporters not to travel to Moscow “if they do not have a ticket or accommodation beforehand.”

Manchester United and their opponents Chelsea have each been given 21,000 tickets for the match, which will take place at the 69,500 capacity Luzhniki Stadium.

Source:

Independent
Guardian