Ticketless fans warned not to travel

UEFA have urged Manchester United and Chelsea fans not to travel to Moscow for the Champions League final unless they have a valid match ticket.

Following talks between European football’s governing body and the Russian government, supporters possessing a ticket will be able to use it as a visa entry for a 72-hour period.

Those fans heading to Russia without visas will be asked to retain their ticket until departing from Moscow, while anyone overstaying the 72-hour entry period will pay the fee for a regular visa upon leaving.

UEFA feel supporters will be wasting their time if they decide to travel without a match ticket. Spokesman William Gaillard said: “Don’t go there. Spare yourself the aggravation of being rejected at the stadium.

“I would tell the fans ‘be reasonable, stay put’ because otherwise you are going to have to pay for a full visa.

“The Russian authorities are also going to be very strict about people trying to get into the stadium with counterfeit tickets or tickets that don’t really belong to them.”

United and Chelsea have been allocated 21,000 tickets each for the match at the Luzhniki Stadium, where capacity has been limited to 69,500.

Although a Fans’ Park will be available in Moscow, Gaillard added: “Is it worth spending all that money just to go to a Fans’ Park when I’m sure there will be plenty of public places in the UK showing the game?”