All fans travelling on the official club trip to Rome next week have been issued with the following letter, designed to facilitate a trouble-free excursion. As well as containing advice on where to avoid and facilities available for supporters, there are also several useful Italian phrases...Dear Supporter,
United travel to the Olympic Stadium in Rome for the third time in 12 months. Lessons have been learned, not least by the authorities but also by our own supporters. Every effort will be made to create a safe and secure environment for those travelling to support the team. However, it is really important that fans follow the guidelines provided.
On this occasion, all match tickets must be collected from the Hotel Jolly, Vittorio, Veneto. The office will be open from 4pm-7pm on Monday, 31 March and 10am-5pm on the matchday.
Tickets will only be issued on production of the passport corresponding with the details of the person to whom a ticket is allocated. Everyone must collect their own ticket and photocopies of passports will not be accepted. No exception to the above conditions will be made.
It is particularly important that you take advantage of the free fan shuttle buses leaving from Villa Borghese from 5pm onwards. Please allow plenty of time, traffic in Rome at that time is particularly heavy and those who have travelled before know that searching and stadiium access procedures can be quite lengthy. Some United fans who attended this fixture on previous occasions and made their own way to the stadium encountered a number of
difficulties, including getting into the stadium.
One of the key issues for the safety and security of visiting fans is that all visiting fans arrive by free shuttle bus. Roma wish to provide a safe and secure environment and all parties (Clubs, the Rome police authorities and UEFA) are anxious that United fans take advantage of this free bus service which departs from Villa Borghese and returns to the city centre after the match.
The British Embassy in Rome has told us that fans of other English clubs who have made their way independently to the stadium have often reported problems with getting back to the city centre after the game. The club realises that fans travelling independently may not wish to give up that independence but we ask you to consider your own safety and welfare as being of paramount importance. We all know from our own experiences also that the concerns in this note are extremely valid and we wish everyone to use the official transport provided.
Supporter coaches will be parked on Vialle San Paulo del Brasille - road running through Park Villa Borghese close to Hotel Jolly Vittorio Veneto.
Most important
All tickets are bar coded and there is a sophisticated entry system with full length turnstiles. Supporters with tickets for other sectors will not be permitted to approach those turnstiles in our sector and will not be relocated to our sector. Fans with tickets for Roma sectors may be admitted but they do so entirely at their own risk. The authorities state quite clearly that there will be no alternative. There are additional concerns about the possible use of forged tickets. Rome police have made two points very clear, the first is that the access facilities at the stadium are extremely
sophisticated and will not admit forged tickets. Second, anyone attempting to produce a forged ticket will be arrested by the police and charged with a criminal offence.
Please note that there will be a hold back after the game. This is usually for a period of between 30 and 60 minutes.
The following information has been provided by the British Embassy in Rome for your safety and security, please observe it.
You are urged not take the metro trains to the Piazza Flaminio or attempt to use the Ponte Duca D'Aosta bridge as these are habitual routes taken by the 'Ultras' to the stadium.
You are advised that there will be an outer ticket cordon at which full searches will take place. Please be mindful that perfume, make-up bags and bags of coins are prohibited and will be confiscated and will not be returned later.
It is customary in all areas of the stadium for spot checks to be carried out and proof of identity sought. Acceptable proof of identity documents are a passport or a photo driving licence – photocopies are not acceptable.
Fans will find that some of the stadium facilities different from those at Old Trafford. For example, the toilets are not the same as in the UK and may be seen by some as fairly primitive there are refreshment facilities but again, these will differ from what you are used to in the UK. Roma have also said that no bottles, even plastic ones will be allowed to be taken into the stadium.
Travel: Public transport (not match night)
If travelling on public transport, you should note that tickets need to be endorsed in a ticket machine before starting a journey. The machines are usually positioned at the entrance to platforms in railway stations, in the entrance hall to metro stations and on board buses and trams. Officials patrol all means of public transport and will issue an on the spot fine of between 50 to 60 euros if you do not hold an endorsed ticket.
Travel: Taxi services (not match night)
There is a single taxi number in rome which is in contact with all the taxi companies and puts you in touch with the first available taxi. The telephone number is 060609. Travel in only officially licensed taxis. These will have a taxi sign on the roof. Also ensure that the meter in the taxi has been restarted before commencing your journey. We do, however, repeat our plea for fans travelling to and from the game only to do so on the free buses provided
Places to avoid
Please stay as far away as possible from Campo De Fiori which is the meeting point for the Roma fans and a place where there has been a lot of trouble in the past with 'Ultra' Roma fans. At the planning meeting prominence was made of the issue of the Campo De Fiori by the club, Greater Manchester Police and the Football Association advisor, urging the Roma police to take steps to prevent the possibility of hooligan fans gathering at this point. However, for your own safety please avoid this area.
Crime
Levels of crime are generally low but there are higher levels of petty crime in the big city centres. Take care on public transport and in crowded areas where pickpockets and bag snatchers may be operating. In Rome, take
particular care around the main railway station, termini, on the number 64 bus, which goes to and from St Peter's Square, and when unloading your baggage from airport/city coaches. Also take care in and around railway stations in other large Italian cities. Be particularly wary of groups of children who may try to distract your attention whilst trying to steal from you. Passports, credit cards, travel tickets and cash should not be carried together in handbags or pockets. Only carry with you what you need for the day. Consider making use of safety deposit facilities in hotels.
Consular advice in the days before, during and after the match
The consular section is open to the public from 9.15am to 1.30pm daily. However, the office is manned until 5pm. The switchboard telephone number is (0039) 06 42200001 or for lost/stolen passports 06 4220 2420.
For out of hours assistance there is a consular duty officer for urgent and real emergencies who can be contacted by telephoning (0039) 06 4220 2603. This number is manned by a security officer at the british embassy who will then contact the consular duty officer. The caller should have a contact telephone number on which the duty officer can call them back.
On the evening of the match there will be duty officers on call in the consular section and they can be contacted on (0039) 06 4220 2420 until the supporters have left the stadium. This number is only for urgent emergencies and/or lost/stolen passports.
Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the officials of Roma have been friendly and helpful in their dealings with us. We want you to enjoy your visit and enjoy the game.
Finally… we are advised by Roma that the law in Italy prohibits the issue of duplicate tickets therefore, lost tickets cannot be replaced.
USEFUL PHRASES
“Could you tell me the way to Villa Borghese?” [where the buses pick up fans for the stadium] MI DICE COME ARRIVARE NELLA PIAZZA VILLA BORGHESE PER FAVORE?
“Could you please show me on the map?” ME LO POTREBBE PER FAVORE INDICARE SULLA CARTINA?
“Where can I buy a metro ticket from?” DOVE POSSO COMPRARE UN BIGLIETTO PER IL METRO PER FAVORE?
“How much?” QUANTO COSTA?
“Could you tell me where the buses to the airport leave from?” MI SA DIRE DA DOVE PARTONO GLI AUTOBUS PER L'AEROPORTO DI FIUMICINO PER FAVORE?
“Is this bus going to the airport?” VA BENE QUEST'AUTOBUS PER L'AEROPORTO DI FIUMICINO?
“Is this bus going into Rome?” VA BEN QUEST'AUTOBUS PER ARRIVARE IN CENTRO DI ROMA?
“Could you tell me where the buses to Rome leave from?” MI SA DIRE DA DOVE PARTONO GLI AUTOBUS PER ARRIVARE IN CENTRO DI ROMA PER FAVORE?
article source : by Press Department http://www.manutd.com
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