Europa League 2025-26

[ChicagoLion]

Istanbul is a fabulous city but you do need to be a little bit careful after dark. I would recommend watching in a bar in the Taksim Square area which  should be fine as it is also a Besiktas area,  where they even deck the McDonald’s Black and White not the usual Red and Yellow ( Galatasary colours). Dont fall for the “I can take you to a great bar with friendly girls”though.

[rjp]

I'm also staying in Deventer.  The buses post match only go to Amsterdam so we'll need to make our own way back.

My hunch is the buses will drop off at Davo after the game, and then carry on to Amsterdam. But this being Villa's ticket office info, a bit of clarity would help it.

Yep. It can’t be too hard to pass the info on, it’s in all our Travel Forms.

The info I have is that we will all have to make our own way back after the game unless you want to go direct to Amsterdam but it should be easy to clarify once we get to the fan zone.

[artvandelay]

For anyone wishing to go to Fenerbahce, I expect tickets in the Villa end to be readily available, with this going down to Season Ticket Holders or probably even Members.

The conditions of entry are likely to be ridiculously onerous, based on Man United's experience last year https://www.manutd.com/en/tickets-and-hospitality/fenerbahce-away-guide

You'll be required to get a shuttle bus 4-5 hours before kick off, then be held in the ground for 1-2 hours before a bus back to wherever they wish to drop you off. Power banks not allowed so your phone won't last.  On top of the long flight each way, I'm not sure anyone will get much chance to see Istanbul. I do expect it to be safe though, which you'd want it to be given the sacrifice of liberty.

[PeterWithesShin]

from that link

Please comply with Border Force and airport staff requests on arrival and departure at Istanbul airport. Make sure to allow for extra time at security.

Your passport must have 150 days validity to enter Turkey.

It is a legal requirement to carry a form of photographic identification. In some busy areas, authorities may stop you to conduct ID checks and those without ID will likely be arrested.

Ensure you have comprehensive travel and medical insurance (EHIC and GHIC cards are not valid in Turkey).

It is illegal to insult the Turkish nation or national flag, and this applies to comments made online.

STADIUM REGULATIONS

You must have a valid match ticket to enter the stadium.

Security checks will be carried out at all entrances.

Photo ID must be carried at all times.

Food and drink from outside the ground is not permitted.

Messages will be transmitted in English.

Only bags with dimensions: 29.7cm x 21.0cm x 21.0cm (similar to a piece of A4 paper) can be brought into the stadium.
Flags will be reviewed on a case by case basis by police and must be sent to Fenerbahçe at least 72 hours in advance of the fixture. Flags and banners less than 2 x 1.5 long are permitted but must not block view from adjoining seating of home supporters. Large banners will be permitted at the discretion of the Safety Officer.

There is a No Smoking policy operating across all areas within the stadium (this includes e-cigarettes).

Power banks, lighters and coins are strictly prohibited. Personal items such as air pods, hygiene products and similar will be confiscated.

[PeterWithesShin]

SHUTTLE BUSES

On instruction from the local Police in Istanbul, United supporters must use a shuttle bus service between Sultanahmet Square and Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, before AND after the game.

All coaches will be located at Sultanahmet Square at 16:00 (local time). Ticket checks and bag and body searches will be conducted by official security officers. The coaches will depart at 17:00 with an expected stadium arrival of 18:00 – 19:00.

Once the buses have left, they will NOT return to collect fans that have arrived late to the departure point.  Fans should be aware that there will be no toilet facilities on board.

IMPORTANT: Supporters are requested to avoid travelling via Taksim Square due to Besiktas playing away at Lyon on the same evening - this area is expected to be extremely busy with local fans watching the game in bars and restaurants.
 
POST-MATCH

On instruction from the local Police in Istanbul, our supporters will be held in the visiting supporters’ section after the game for up to 60 minutes (supporters will have access to facilities). It is then asked that all supporters to take the shuttle bus back to Sultanahmet Square.

We appreciate and apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause to some of your plans. However, we must relay the strong advice of the host country security and police forces and ask you comply with their request.

[Sexual Ealing]

Please comply with Border Force and airport staff requests on arrival and departure at Istanbul airport. Make sure to allow for extra time at security.

Your passport must have 150 days validity to enter Turkey.

It is a legal requirement to carry a form of photographic identification. In some busy areas, authorities may stop you to conduct ID checks and those without ID will likely be arrested.

Ensure you have comprehensive travel and medical insurance (EHIC and GHIC cards are not valid in Turkey).

It is illegal to insult the Turkish nation or national flag, and this applies to comments made online.

[/b]

wE nEed to bE MoRE liKe TurKeY.

[AV82EC]

Please comply with Border Force and airport staff requests on arrival and departure at Istanbul airport. Make sure to allow for extra time at security.

Your passport must have 150 days validity to enter Turkey.

It is a legal requirement to carry a form of photographic identification. In some busy areas, authorities may stop you to conduct ID checks and those without ID will likely be arrested.

Ensure you have comprehensive travel and medical insurance (EHIC and GHIC cards are not valid in Turkey).

It is illegal to insult the Turkish nation or national flag, and this applies to comments made online.

[/b]

wE nEed to bE MoRE liKe TurKeY.

Ha ha ha

[eamonn]

Turkey wishes to be called Türkiye. They're tired of being likened to a fat, tasty bird.

[Sexual Ealing]

Erdoğan wishes for people using languages other than Turkish to call it Türkiye. Erdoğan is in charge of way too many things already. He can fuck off.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't mind that request, and would be quite happy if countries like Germany, Spain etc started asking people to say their country names in their own language. Seems like the world would be a mildly better place if we all made the effort with stuff like that.

[Dave]

Erdoğan wishes for people using languages other than Turkish to call it Türkiye. Erdoğan is in charge of way too many things already. He can fuck off.

I think you should refuse to use the breve in his name to really hammer to point home.

[Sexual Ealing]

They're part of his actual name. We already have a word in English for Türkiye.

[Dave]

I don't mind that request, and would be quite happy if countries like Germany, Spain etc started asking people to say their country names in their own language. Seems like the world would be a mildly better place if we all made the effort with stuff like that.

I dunno. I reckon if Farage or someone said that other countries should start referring to England and the United Kingdom instead of their own language versions, we'd all think he was being a twat.

[Sexual Ealing]

I don't mind that request, and would be quite happy if countries like Germany, Spain etc started asking people to say their country names in their own language. Seems like the world would be a mildly better place if we all made the effort with stuff like that.

I wouldn't mind either if it hadn't happened on his watch.

Edit: that's bollocks. I would mind. It's good that people have their own languages, and words for different countries.

[Monty]

At best I really don't think it matters what language word we use to refer to places, and at worst it's used as a cudgel to impose one ethnic supremacy in a multiethnic situation (e.g. Mumbai).

Like, people in Venice say Venezia in Italian but Venexia/Venessia in Venetian, and the same goes for Napoli/Napule, Palermo/Palimmu and so on. Why put ourselves in the middle of that? Just say Venice, Naples and, well, Palermo I guess. Believe me they're going to keep saying Londra and Edimburgo.