Foreign and Commonwealth Office – 2019 Press Release on the 2020 UEFA European Championship Finals
Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 29/11/2019.
The draw for the Euro 2020 finals takes place tomorrow and with two home nations already confirmed to be taking part in the competition next summer, the FCO is once again launching ‘Be on the Ball’, a campaign providing advice and information to British football fans planning to travel overseas.
‘Be on the Ball’ gives travelling supporters simple advice and information to help keep problems to a minimum and to enhance their enjoyment of the tournament.
The campaign sees the launch of the FCO’s Euro 2020 travel advice page as well as 10 top tips for travelling British fans which they can download and keep.
Julia Longbottom, Consular Director, FCO, said:
Euro 2020 will be a unique tournament with overseas matches taking place in ten cities from Dublin to Baku. We anticipate that British fans will travel in numbers to each of the host countries at different stages of the competition.
The FCO’s ‘Be on the Ball’ campaign aims to give practical advice and information for each destination. We encourage every British supporter to make arrangements early in order to avoid problems and ensure they have a safe and enjoyable visit. This includes staying up to date with our Euro 2020 travel advice and social media channels ahead of, and during the tournament.
Kevin Miles, Chief Executive of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), said:
Euro 2020 has arguably the most diverse range of cities and venues in football tournament history, with 12 different host countries involved.
That is one of many reasons for supporters to ‘Be on the Ball’ – it’s best to plan early and research whichever city you plan on visiting.
Top tips
To help travelling fans ‘Be on the Ball’ the FCO has compiled the following 10 top tips:
Be prepared: Check out the latest travel advice for each host country you plan to visit.
Plan ahead: Book travel and accommodation in advance as demand will be high. Be aware that longer stays in Russia and Azerbaijan may require you to register your stay on arrival.
Tickets: Get your tickets from an official source. Tickets bought through unofficial channels may not be valid.
Passport: Check your passport meets validity requirements for each destination. Look after your passport while travelling and keep it in a safe place.
Insurance: Take out adequate travel insurance and ensure it covers you for all destinations, medical needs and activities.
Visas: You will need to apply for a Fan ID to enter Russia. A simplified visa procedure is expected to be announced for Azerbaijan. Allow plenty of time to apply and make sure it covers the length of your stay.
Getting around: Plan your journeys and allow good time to get to the stadiums. Research venue locations and local transport in advance, including driving laws.
Stick with your mates: Stay in close contact and make sure no one in your group gets separated.
Be responsible: Follow advice and instructions from the local authorities and respect different laws and customs. Fans deemed to have drunk too much alcohol may not be allowed into the stadiums or fan zones.
If things don’t go to plan: Make a note of the emergency numbers for each country, including the nearest Embassy or Consulate.