Soccer fans face long Moscow delays

12 April 2012

Thousands of Chelsea and Manchester United fans are pouring into Moscow for the first all-English Champions League final.

Supporters are certain to face a day of frustrating delay as the advance guard found out on Tuesday.

Form-filling on arrival in the country, traffic congestion on roads into the capital, security checks and queues at hotel check-ins have all led to complaints by fans.

United supporter Alice Templeton, 58, from Castlereagh, Belfast, said: "It's ridiculous. I've never seen anything like it. There won't be time to go out anywhere by the time we've checked in."

Supporters have been warned to arrive early at the Luzhniki Stadium tonight because of checks to be carried out there.

Chelsea fan Tom Shutlar, 52, a roofing contractor from Goffs Oak, Herts, said: "I think everyone feels that we've got to deal with all the problems and just fit together and get on with it."

Indicating the long queue of 200 to 300 people for check-in at one of the leading hotels, he said: "I followed Chelsea all over Europe and I've never seen anything like this."

Meanwhile, fans were predictably divided about which of the English sides would take the European crown.

Chelsea fan Danniella Roworth, 40, of Loughborough, said: "It's destiny. United have won the title and relaxed. We haven't relaxed, and we want it more."

But Tony Farrington, a 53-year-old butcher from Eccles, said: "We are playing well enough to win it, and I think we're going to do so, 2-0."

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