Rangers supporters travelling to Istanbul for the club’s Europa League Round of 16 first-leg tie against Fenerbahce have been left frustrated after a late change to pre-match transport plans.
The Rangers Fan Advisory Board (FAB) confirmed that the bus pick-up location has been moved from Sultanahmet Square to Taksim Gezi Park.
The alteration, which comes at short notice with the game taking place in the Turkish megacity this Thursday, has been made at the request of local police, though departure times will remain the same.
The change has sparked frustration among some travelling fans, particularly those who had booked accommodation on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Rangers have said that it’s imperative for supporters to travel on these buses rather than make their own way to the stadium.
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A statement published on the Rangers SLO’s X account read: "Supporters travelling to Istanbul should note the coach pick-up point has today been amended by the local authorities.
"This is due to a religious festival taking place near Sultanahmet Square.
"The mandatory coaches will now leave from Gezi Park at Taksim Square.
"We recognise this late change may cause inconvenience, and unfortunately, the club has no control over it.
"We urge all travelling supporters to plan accordingly and thank you again for your understanding."
One supporter took to social media platform X to highlight the inconvenience, stating: “This is much worse because it’s 5km further from the stadium and makes it even worse for those of us who have booked hotels in the Asian side and are likely to be dropped off in the European city centre at 2.00am.”
Those intending on being at the game should keep an eye on official Rangers FC communication channels for any further updates.
