Manchester City fans visiting Istanbul for tomorrow's Champions League final have been urged to 'be a good guest' in the Turkish city. Greater Manchester Police will have a presence in Ataturk Olympic Stadium and surrounding fan zones when the Blues take on Inter Milan tomorrow (June 10).
Officers are there to support the 20,000 Man City fans expected to travel to the city, alongside staff and stewards from the club. GMP Superintendent Graeme Openshaw, the force's Head of Delegation for the fixture, said: “GMP is supporting Man City fans in Istanbul as they celebrate what has been a fantastic season for the club.
"Officers in Istanbul have been specially selected based on their vast experience in policing football fixtures and large crowd events. The task force comprises a range of ranks and specialisms; officers on the ground engaging with fans are bolstered by the preliminary effort of liaising with UEFA, Turkish police, and local authorities.”
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The match offers City the chance to make history by claiming their first Champions League to complete a historic treble, having won the Premier League and FA Cup already this season. With so much on the line for the club, travelling supporters are being urged to enjoy the game sensibly.
Supt Openshaw added: "Man City fans should visit the FCDO website for travel guidance and take metro shuttle buses for the most direct journey. Istanbul is a large city, prone to congestion and fans who plan their journeys and arrive early to the stadium on match day will have the best football experience.
“Be a good guest, avoid drinking in excess and don’t be involved in antisocial behaviour. There will be an increased presence from the Turkish Police around the city, they are there to keep you safe, approach them for assistance or dial 112 in an emergency.”
UK officers have no policing powers outside this country, so their role in Istanbul is advisory. Mark Roberts, Cheshire's chief constable and the lead on football policing for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), says officers travelling to Istanbul will help local police 'plan and manage visiting fans' from the UK.
"This joint way of working has proved successful at past tournaments," he said. "We didn’t work with Paris on last year’s Champions League preparations and were happy the Turks accepted our invitation.
"We have been working closely with our Turkish counterparts to help them understand British culture and traditions around football so they can interpret the behaviour of our travelling Man City fans and deliver a proportionate response - highlighting the difference between cultural behaviour and criminal acts."
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