Gazza_8 233 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Major bummer for the fans of both teams. Imagine if that was the case in Madchester last year, we'd have started riots across the city. Local authorities in Rome have issued a total ban on alcohol in the city in a bid to prevent crowd trouble at Wednesday's Champions League final. Manchester United take on Barcelona in the showpiece with more than 67,000 fans expected in the Italian capital. Alcohol will be banned throughout the city and its airports and stations from 2300 on Tuesday to 0600 on Thursday. Forged tickets are also a concern, as around 5,000 fans without tickets are likely to be in and around the city. Rome prefect Giuseppe Pecoraro said: "There are no more tickets left to sell, hence, the tickets that are circulating are false." Regarding the alcohol ban he added: "It will not be a militarised city. "All the necessary measures have been taken in order to give the best possible image of this city." Uefa president Michel Platini has urged fans to concentrate on the football between two of the world's most glamorous teams. "This is going to be a wonderful match, and the whole world will be glued to this event, that is why it is important that everyone behaves themselves," said the Frenchman, who experienced one of football's worst disasters as a Juventus player when 39 fans were killed at the 1985 final against Liverpool at the Heysel Stadium, Belgium. "Football must show itself in the best positive light. "Uefa is at the service of the fans, as was the case last year with waiving the visas for Moscow and will be the case this year, as we have done everything possible to make sure that they can enjoy the atmosphere, the event and the celebration of football. "We are therefore counting on the fans to have a good time and to behave. Enjoy Rome, enjoy the festivities and most of all enjoy the football." Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is determined to quash the threat of violence and said: "I have asked interior minister Roberto Maroni to have maximum attention from the security officers to avoid any incidents. "Only several hundred of those fans that do not have a ticket are hooligans." Alemanno also confirmed that there will be official meeting points for Barcelona and Manchester United fans. "We have placed two meeting points for the fans," he said. "One in Piazza Cipro for the Spaniards and the other one in Piazza delle Canestre for the English supporters." 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 780 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Banning alcohol is ridiculous though. There are 1000s upon 1000s of fans who will just want a few pints before the game then go and enjoy the occassion. They are hurting the economy! Some of the pubs and shops in Rome would make a fortune for a few days. They just need to organise the policing properly and bring english and spanish police over. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Cole 0 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Did they not try to do that in Florence though? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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