Ticketless Reds fans warned not to travel

Thousands of Liverpool fans will be heading for Istanbul this week for the club’s biggest match in 20 years – but supporters without match tickets have been warned not to bother.

Police say the Turkish authorities will be checking fans have tickets when they arrive ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League final against AC Milan and may send them home if they do not have them.

Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis of Merseyside Police said: “All of the tickets for the match have now been allocated and I’d advise anyone without a ticket not to travel.

“The Turkish authorities say they will be checking that supporters arriving have tickets. If they don’t they run the risk of being sent home.”

Liverpool have 20,000 tickets – 3,000 fewer than the number of season ticket holders at Anfield – and there are fears that fans may make the journey hoping to pick up a ticket on the black market.

Police say there is no specific intelligence to suggest a problem with fraudulent tickets, but officers in both England and Turkey will be on the alert.

“All tickets through the official channels have now been sold and police would recommend that supporters do not buy tickets from unauthorised sources as they cannot guarantee entry into the match,” a police spokesman said.

A nation-wide ports operation, similar to those that take place when England play abroad, has been implemented to keep known troublemakers at home.

Police also warned travellers not to turn up for their flight intoxicated as hey would not be allowed on to planes.

They already know not to wear fezzes, which could risk insulting Turkish people.

Turks have regarded the fez, made famous in this country by comedian Tommy Cooper, as insulting since the wearing of such hats was banned by Kamal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in 1925.

There have been security problems involving English fans in Turkey in the past. Two Leeds supporters were stabbed to death in Istanbul in 2000 and there has been trouble when the national sides have met.

However with no Turkish club involved in the final and Liverpool said to be well regarded in the city, authorities are optimistic it will pass off well.

A spokesman for the British consulate-general in Istanbul said: “The city is no stranger to big events and big football matches. The consulate-general has been in touch with Liverpool Football Club, Merseyside police, UEFA and the Turkish authorities to make sure we can welcome all these fans into the city.

“Consular officials will be available 24 hours a day to help visiting fans, and there will be a consular presence at major arrival and departure points.

“We are advising people to check the Foreign Office website to see dos and don’ts about travelling to Turkey.”