14/03/22 - Porto vs Inter
From not accepting valid tickets to woeful organisation.
Here’s a short thread on what I experienced at Estadio Dragão tonight…
#UEFA #FCPorto #Inter
From not accepting valid tickets to woeful organisation.
Here’s a short thread on what I experienced at Estadio Dragão tonight…
#UEFA #FCPorto #Inter
https://twitter.com/footballshirtc2/status/1635745889301024776
So, as I do with pretty much every game I go to, I arrived an hour early.
It is my first time in Porto, so I was hoping to grab a couple pics inside the Iconic Dragão before the game kicked off.
Little did I know what Porto & UEFA had in store for me.
It is my first time in Porto, so I was hoping to grab a couple pics inside the Iconic Dragão before the game kicked off.
Little did I know what Porto & UEFA had in store for me.
Below is my ticket.
I was to enter from gate 21, which is on the north side of the stadium.
I headed to gate 21 to be told I was at the wrong entrance, as the entrance point on my ticket states ‘gate 19’.
No hassle, I was early anyway, so I went to the entrance to gate 19.
I was to enter from gate 21, which is on the north side of the stadium.
I headed to gate 21 to be told I was at the wrong entrance, as the entrance point on my ticket states ‘gate 19’.
No hassle, I was early anyway, so I went to the entrance to gate 19.
As I arrived at gate 19, I noticed it was only Inter fans.
Now, I’m not a Porto fan and have never been to the stadium so didn’t know which area was dedicated for the away fans, so I was thinking that maybe I accidentally bought a ticket for the away end.
Now, I’m not a Porto fan and have never been to the stadium so didn’t know which area was dedicated for the away fans, so I was thinking that maybe I accidentally bought a ticket for the away end.
As I made my way up the stairs, it got more and more packed by the minute.
Countless Inter fans being turned away from the away end despite having valid tickets, being advised they were at the wrong gate.
The match had already well started by this point.
Countless Inter fans being turned away from the away end despite having valid tickets, being advised they were at the wrong gate.
The match had already well started by this point.
https://twitter.com/tancredipalmeri/status/1635747641769304066
In all honestly though, I felt extremely unsafe, and I imagine many others did too.
The police were doing absolutely nothing to help/explain the situation we all found ourselves in.
The line was moving slower and slower, and was getting more and more cramped.
The police were doing absolutely nothing to help/explain the situation we all found ourselves in.
The line was moving slower and slower, and was getting more and more cramped.
As I was near the top, I saw something nobody should have to see when going to watch some football.
From the balcony above came a young Inter fan, who was launched into the crowd by a police officer.
Of course, the Inter fans weren’t happy with this and started shouting.
From the balcony above came a young Inter fan, who was launched into the crowd by a police officer.
Of course, the Inter fans weren’t happy with this and started shouting.
Someone going to watch a football match should not fear being thrown from a fucking balcony from a police officer.
I mean, the fact I have to say that is just mental in itself.
I’ll never forget that moment, absolutely horrendous.
I mean, the fact I have to say that is just mental in itself.
I’ll never forget that moment, absolutely horrendous.
Finally, I made it to the top, only to be told that I had to return to the gate I initially tried to enter through, gate 21.
Most other fans were denied entry too, even those with tickets stating they were to enter through gate 19 & 20.
Most other fans were denied entry too, even those with tickets stating they were to enter through gate 19 & 20.
Feeling defeated, I made my way back towards gate 21.
At this point, it was 08:40 and they were turning almost everyone away from the gate.
As it hit 08:41, they closed the gates, shutting out hundreds of Porto fans with valid tickets.
At this point, it was 08:40 and they were turning almost everyone away from the gate.
As it hit 08:41, they closed the gates, shutting out hundreds of Porto fans with valid tickets.
After all that hassle, I, as well as hundreds of other fans, didn’t even get to watch the gave.
A horror showing of organisation by Porto/UEFA, I’m not sure who exactly is at fault, but going off track record, I can take a guess…
A horror showing of organisation by Porto/UEFA, I’m not sure who exactly is at fault, but going off track record, I can take a guess…
I got chatting to some Porto fans who were telling me that Porto had double sold tickets in error, which caused the issue for so many tickets to show as invalid.
Wether that be the case or not, the scenes I witnessed today shouldn’t be witnessed by any fan.
Wether that be the case or not, the scenes I witnessed today shouldn’t be witnessed by any fan.
Many, including myself, will have had to pay for flights, accommodation & booked time off work to attend the game, and they weren’t even allowed to do that.
I hope Porto/EUFA refund all these fans and at least provide some form of compensation for travel costs, etc.
I hope Porto/EUFA refund all these fans and at least provide some form of compensation for travel costs, etc.
Please please please share this around, this needs to be seen by as many people as possible to hopefully stop things like this happening in the future.
You’d think UEFA would’ve upped their game since Paris, but evidently not.
You’d think UEFA would’ve upped their game since Paris, but evidently not.
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