Travel information | Galatasaray vs Spurs, Europa League

Supporters travelling to Istanbul, Turkey for our UEFA Europa League match against Galatasaray on Thursday 7 November are advised to take note of the following important information, which includes...

• Information from the British Embassy/Consulate, which includes details on travel insurance and the need to always carry your passport in Turkey.
• Mandatory travel arrangements for all supporters to take the shuttle bus between Sultanahmet Square and RAMS Park.
• Details of the stadium entry process, including searches and the removal of all items that could potentially be thrown/used as a missile.
• Arrangements for access supporters, including some challenges with access seating and facilities.
• A mandatory hold-back after the game of up to 90 minutes.
• Information on the bag policy and prohibited items, including restrictions on portable chargers and medical items such as syringes and inhalers.
• Flags must be pre-approved, submitting details to supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com no later than Monday 4^th November at 9am.
• Restrictions on alcohol in public spaces, with no alcohol served inside the stadium.

Kick-off is 8.45pm local time (5.45pm UK time).

Should supporters have any queries regarding their trip to Istanbul, please contact supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com.

Istanbul

Supporters are advised to avoid Taksim Square on their visit to Istanbul as the area will be heavily populated with Galatasaray supporters.

The British Embassy / Consulate standby to provide assistance, so that supporters have a safe and secure visit to Istanbul. For all British nationals the British Embassy / Consulate strongly recommends that all fans read and sign-up for email alerts to the travel advice to Turkey - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey.

Supporters should particularly note the validity of British passports (150 days) to be allowed entry into Turkey. The British Embassy / Consulate strongly recommends the need to have the appropriate Foreign Travel Insurance - EHIC / GHIC cards are not valid in Turkey.

There is a legal requirement to carry photo ID at all times while in Turkey and the Foreign Office advises supporters to carry their physical passport with them.

Contacting the British Consulate General Istanbul

Address: Meşrutiyet Caddesi No 42 Tepebaşı Beyoglu
34435 Istanbul
Turkey

Emergency - Tel: +90 212 334 64 00 – (24/7 phone line) or send an online enquiry

Should you experience any problems whilst in Istanbul, you can call the Club’s Travel Line - 07917 880445. This number will be available throughout the day/evening of the match.

The local currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira.

Getting to the stadium - mandatory shuttle buses

On instruction from the local Police in Istanbul, it is mandatory for our supporters to use a shuttle bus service between RAMS Park and Sultanahmet Square, before and after the game.

When boarding the buses, ticket checks and general body searches are carried out under the supervision of the local Police.

All coaches will depart in convoy from Sultanahmet Square at 4:30pm local time, ahead of the 8.45pm kick-off, escorted by local Police.

Once the buses have left, they will NOT return to collect fans that have arrived late to the collection point. Supporters will not be able to access RAMS Park by any other mode of transport, with the Police only permitting entry to the stadium via the shuttle buses. The journey time is estimated to be a minimum of one hour. The shuttle bus departure time is subject to change and ticket holders are advised to keep in touch with Club channels and our staff on matchday for the latest information.

Supporters should note that there are no toilet facilities on the vehicles, however, there is a large toilet block within Sultanahmet Square.

On arrival at RAMS Park

Turnstiles will open 3 hours before kick-off at 17:45 local time.

Entry to the stadium is expected to be slow, with all supporters having to pass through six narrow queuing lanes. The local Police and Galatasaray stewards will conduct a soft body search and ticket check as supporters approach the six visiting supporters’ turnstiles. A further ticket check will take place on entry to the turnstiles, with a full body search once inside the gates.

Supporters are strongly advised to only bring essential items with them to the stadium. Local Police have instructed that any item that could be thrown/used as a missile will be confiscated and there is no opportunity for negotiation. There are also restrictions on medical items, and we strongly encourage fans to contact us in advance at access@tottenhamhotspur.com for further information. See prohibited items section for more information.

We thank all supporters for their patience while entering the stadium and would urge fans to comply with the Police instructions at all times.

The visiting supporters’ section is located in the southeast corner of the stadium, in the upper tier, Blocks 418-421. The area is surrounded by security fencing, with the pitch viewed through Perspex glass. Police will have a presence in the visiting supporters’ section throughout the game.

Supporters should note that there are 110 steps to the visiting supporters’ section in the Upper Tier, with no lift service.

Post-match hold back and return to Sultanahmet Square

On instruction from the local Police in Istanbul, our supporters will be held in the visiting supporters’ section after the game for up to 90 minutes. It is mandatory for all supporters to take the shuttle bus back to Sultanahmet Square.

The catering kiosk will be open after the game to ensure supporters can purchase food and drink during this time.

Accessibility

Access supporters should carefully note the important information below, including travel arrangements, restricted views for wheelchair users and no dedicated ambulant seating arrangements.

All access supporters’ tickets are allocated in the home section of the stadium, and we strongly advise fans not to wear Club colours.

Access supporters must use a dedicated shuttle bus service provided by Tottenham Hotspur which will take them between Sultanahmet Square and RAMS Park, West Stand car park. On arrival to the car park, access supporters will be chaperoned by Tottenham Hotspur access staff to an external lift which will arrive outside of Entrance B3. Access supporters will be permitted to enter through the gate at the side of the turnstiles.

After the game, it is mandatory for access supporters to take the shuttle bus from the West Stand car park back to Sultanahmet Square. There is likely to be a hold back in this section after the game, possibly up to 90 minutes. Traffic is extremely heavy in the area surrounding the stadium and supporters should expect delays when leaving after the game.

Tottenham Hotspur access stewards and supporter liaison staff will be on hand to support our fans.

Wheelchair users

Wheelchair spaces are located in the home area, West Stand Category 1. Galatasaray have advised that the home supporters directly in front of the wheelchair spaces will stand during the game, which will impede the view of the pitch. The wheelchair spaces are not on an elevated platform and circulation space may be limited, with fellow supporters having to manoeuvre to enable other wheelchair users to pass through.

Ambulant supporters

There is no dedicated ambulant seating. Ambulant supporters will be allocated tickets in the home area in the first two rows of the West Stand Category 1 seating. There are no handrails available, so supporters must be able to safely and comfortably negotiate approximately 45 steps within the stand when going between the concourse and their seat.

Access amenities

All amenities are located in the home section of the stadium. There are kiosks selling food and drink, however, there are no lowered counters, no hearing loops and no dedicated accessible lanes. There is one accessible toilet. There is no Changing Places facility.

Medical exemption policy

The local Police have informed us that medical syringes, epi-pens and inhalers will not be permitted inside the stadium and that anything that can be thrown/used as a missile will be confiscated.

Any supporters requiring medical exemption to the bag policy, or any prohibited items are strongly advised to contact the Club in advance of travel at access@tottenhamhotspur.com.

Alcohol

No alcohol will be served inside the stadium and supporters are reminded that it is illegal to carry or consume alcohol in public spaces. Supporters who arrive intoxicated may be denied entry to the stadium.

Bag Policy

Only small handbags will be allowed into the stadium after searches by Police/stewards at the entrance. We advise supporters to only bring essential items to the stadium. Please see prohibited items for further information.

Backpacks, rucksacks, luggage or any prohibited items will not be allowed into the stadium and there is no storage facility at RAMS Park.

Phone chargers

Power banks/portable phone chargers are NOT permitted in the stadium and will be removed at the turnstiles. Supporters are advised to fully charge their phones in advance of travelling to the stadium.

Flag policy

Supporters must submit an image of their flag to supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com by 9am on Monday 4 November to be pre-approved by Galatasaray and the local Police. Any requests received after this time will not be permitted into RAMS Park. All flags must have a fire safety certificate.

The Club has always considered that a football match is a time to show allegiance to a football team first and foremost. A football match is not an appropriate arena to display flags of any political or religious affiliation or anything that could possibly be considered inflammatory – this can include national flags during times of political conflicts, campaigns or issues.

Please note, as at other stadia in the UK and Europe, flags with religious / sectarian / political / inflammatory or offensive messages will not be permitted and may be confiscated. Flag poles are not permitted.

Supporters are also reminded of the Club’s own Flags and Banners Policy which is in effect at away matches.

Concourse and payments

There is one food and beverage kiosk in the visiting supporters’ section which will accept cash (Turkish Lira) and major debit and credit cards. The menu includes hot dogs, burgers and Turkish doner, alongside hot drinks and soda. Menus will be advertised with pricing clearly marked.

There are two men’s and one women’s toilet facility, and cubicles are limited.

Smoking/vaping

Smoking and vaping are not permitted in the stadium. Police have instructed that e-cigarettes and/or vapes will be removed at the turnstiles.

Prohibited items

Supporters are strongly advised to travel light, only bringing essential items with them to the stadium. The local Police have instructed that any item that could potentially be thrown/used as a missile will be confiscated at the turnstiles. This will include, but is not limited to; portable chargers, vapes/e-cigarettes, coins, lighters, umbrellas, cameras, bottles and canned drinks. These restrictions also apply to medical items such as inhalers and medical syringes and we strongly encourage fans to contact us in advance at access@tottenhamhotspur.com for further information.

We appreciate the inconvenience this will cause, however, to ensure the safety and security of all our supporters we ask that you comply with the Police instructions.

Spurs respects

We are justly proud of our superb and loyal support at home and away. We all have a responsibility to act as ambassadors of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and act as considerate visitors to those who live and work in the cities and countries we visit. Please respect local customs and traditions by not placing flags or banners on local statues or monuments.

We recognise that most supporters want to watch a football match and not to listen to abusive or indecent language from the stands. Discriminatory behaviour which includes shouting, chanting or actions such as racist, sectarian, homophobic, sexist or anti-disability behaviour is unacceptable. If you witness incidents like these, please get in contact with a steward as soon as you can.