What Is The Point Of An English Night In Moscow?

[funfun]

Bill Shankley's managerial achievements have gained him a measure of immortality.

He won League titles and FA Cups and poured his energy and talent into the creation of a major football club. Yet he was pursued to the grave by a phrase he never uttered: 'Football isn't a matter of life or death, it's far more important than that.'

It was far too contrived to be authentically Shankly, who was the least pretentious of men. But no matter, it was treated as gospel by a host of self-deluding poseurs seeking macho credentials. And now, sadly, it has been adopted by UEFA as its official policy.

How else to explain that organisation's perverse and disgraceful insistence that the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea on May 21 should be played in the Luzhniki Stadium, South Moscow, rather than Wembley Stadium, North London?

In order to appreciate the enormity of the scandal, we should consider the logistics. Each club has been allocated 21,000 tickets.

With a further 10,000 tickets due to find their way into English hands, we may expect, say 50,000 people to make the 3,000- mile round trip from the UK.

And this at the behest of an organisation which recently boasted: 'UEFA cares about the environment, about people and about football. We firmly believe that the three go hand-in-hand.'

I have not mentioned those foolhardy fans who will make the monstrous journey by road, nor the fleet of Sky TV trucks which will set out 10 days before kick-off, bearing 30 cameras and 75 crew, nor the 700 Moscow buses which will be needed to ferry supporters to and from the stadium.

If UEFA really cares about the environment, then it has a curious way of showing it.

Then there is the cost to supporters, with airline seats selling at £1,500 return and black market tickets similarly priced. And that is before reaching the city which is now the world's most expensive capital, with hotel chains charging the first figure which enters their heads.

Inconvenience? What about the problems of ensuring that known English hooligans are prevented from travelling? Or encouraging Moscow's own thugs not to view the invasion as a challenge? Or persuading the Moscow police to curb their robust inclinations when confronted by raucous, belligerent and possibly drunken English fans?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...n_author_id=355

raucous, belligerent and possibly drunken English fans?

[Jockstar]

raucous, belligerent and possibly drunken English fans?

Never! Surely you jest? :D

[The Vulcan]

PATRICK BARCLAY

A £50m capital offence

Whoever chose Moscow for the Champions League final should choke on his caviar.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...4/sfnpad104.xml

Pretty much the same feeling vented in the above link

[Jockstar]

So lets say its an non English final. Would you feel the same? I think not. The decision is made well before anyone team gets near the final. So its is what it is. Whether it be 2 English sides or whoever. Can't complain really.

[LKIBA]

Bill Shankley's managerial achievements have gained him a measure of immortality.

He won League titles and FA Cups and poured his energy and talent into the creation of a major football club. Yet he was pursued to the grave by a phrase he never uttered: 'Football isn't a matter of life or death, it's far more important than that.'

It was far too contrived to be authentically Shankly, who was the least pretentious of men. But no matter, it was treated as gospel by a host of self-deluding poseurs seeking macho credentials. And now, sadly, it has been adopted by UEFA as its official policy.

How else to explain that organisation's perverse and disgraceful insistence that the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea on May 21 should be played in the Luzhniki Stadium, South Moscow, rather than Wembley Stadium, North London?

In order to appreciate the enormity of the scandal, we should consider the logistics. Each club has been allocated 21,000 tickets.

With a further 10,000 tickets due to find their way into English hands, we may expect, say 50,000 people to make the 3,000- mile round trip from the UK.

And this at the behest of an organisation which recently boasted: 'UEFA cares about the environment, about people and about football. We firmly believe that the three go hand-in-hand.'

I have not mentioned those foolhardy fans who will make the monstrous journey by road, nor the fleet of Sky TV trucks which will set out 10 days before kick-off, bearing 30 cameras and 75 crew, nor the 700 Moscow buses which will be needed to ferry supporters to and from the stadium.

If UEFA really cares about the environment, then it has a curious way of showing it.

Then there is the cost to supporters, with airline seats selling at £1,500 return and black market tickets similarly priced. And that is before reaching the city which is now the world's most expensive capital, with hotel chains charging the first figure which enters their heads.

Inconvenience? What about the problems of ensuring that known English hooligans are prevented from travelling? Or encouraging Moscow's own thugs not to view the invasion as a challenge? Or persuading the Moscow police to curb their robust inclinations when confronted by raucous, belligerent and possibly drunken English fans?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...n_author_id=355

raucous, belligerent and possibly drunken English fans?

it endorses my thread about adolf plattini

[LKIBA]

So lets say its an non English final. Would you feel the same? I think not. The decision is made well before anyone team gets near the final. So its is what it is. Whether it be 2 English sides or whoever. Can't complain really.

well it is an all english final and it is costing the real fans money and precious time and there are load more other implications, you need to put a lot more thought into your comments

[LeungKen]

The point of an English night in Moscow is to enable Manchester United to finalise a fantastic year by winning the UEFA Cup, and for S.A.F to wax lyrical in Glaswegian.

. . .

[mrbojangles]

The point of an English night in Moscow is to enable Manchester United to finalise a fantastic year by winning the UEFA Cup, and for S.A.F to wax lyrical in Glaswegian.

I think Zenit St Petersburg and Rangers will have something to say about that Ken

[mrtoad]

A bit of common sense should be applied when chosing venues. Moscow is hardly the best of venues for travelling football fans. You would think that UEFA, would have some sort of contingency plan (like any other proper business), when a scenario such as this happens (two teams from one country). I understand of course that Juve and AC Milan played the final in Manchester in 2003 (however Manchester has a better infasructure), but there are other implications here in respect of crowd management, safety,visas, cost, accesability and accomodation. Whilst the stadium in Moscow is first rate, is the infastructure really there to support two visiting teams? IMO no. This has been a decision based on politics and money within the UEFA body, with little other thought to fans.