We’re aware the official advice for fans travelling to support Spurs at Olympiacos next week is quite onerous. We have been talking to the Club about the advice and arrangements for the trip, so we thought it was worth sharing some of that conversation. We’ve also consulted other supporter groups with experience of travelling to Athens.
We’re aware the requirement to travel to the ground only on the official transport laid on from the city centre will inconvenience some of our fans. However, we can’t stress strongly enough how important it is that fans take the official transport, even if this means getting cabs to the pick-up points. Fans staying closer to the stadium should take a cab to the coach park at the ground and meet up with the Spurs coaches ahead of the game. It is not advisable to travel to the ground on foot in small groups or alone.
Athens is a great city to visit, but around the match it is really important to follow official advice.
As we always do, we pushed back on the requirement for fans to carry original passports. Standard travel advice to tourists is to not carry originals, but this is another example of football fans being singled out for detrimental treatment - in this case treatment that exposes them to greater risk. We’ve succeeded in the past in getting authorities to accept copies, but on this occasion, with even the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office backing the requirement to carry originals, we sadly could not make common sense prevail.
We are also trying to get restrictions on bag size, phone chargers and umbrellas relaxed. We’re told the authorities are keen to ensure every fan is treated in the same way. Our point is that away fans at European games should sometimes be treated differently, because their requirements are different as a result of having to travel much further. This seems to be a point of common sense that is not widely accepted, but we will continue to argue the point.
We are hopeful that Spurs stewards will be on hand at the check points to take any prohibited items from our fans for the duration of the match for safe keeping, before returning them after the game.
As always, the Trust will be contactable should any fans need to raise any issues or get advice. Our Twitter account @THSTOfficial and our general email address info@THSTOfficial.com are the quickest ways to reach us. We work alongside FSA caseworker Amanda Jacks and stewarding and security staff at THFC to ensure our fans have the best experience possible, and that any incidents are properly dealt with.
Safe and successful travels to all fans heading to Athens over the coming days.
THST Board
15 September 2019
Athens is a great city to visit, but around the match it is really important to follow official advice.
As we always do, we pushed back on the requirement for fans to carry original passports. Standard travel advice to tourists is to not carry originals, but this is another example of football fans being singled out for detrimental treatment - in this case treatment that exposes them to greater risk. We’ve succeeded in the past in getting authorities to accept copies, but on this occasion, with even the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office backing the requirement to carry originals, we sadly could not make common sense prevail.
We are also trying to get restrictions on bag size, phone chargers and umbrellas relaxed. We’re told the authorities are keen to ensure every fan is treated in the same way. Our point is that away fans at European games should sometimes be treated differently, because their requirements are different as a result of having to travel much further. This seems to be a point of common sense that is not widely accepted, but we will continue to argue the point.
We are hopeful that Spurs stewards will be on hand at the check points to take any prohibited items from our fans for the duration of the match for safe keeping, before returning them after the game.
As always, the Trust will be contactable should any fans need to raise any issues or get advice. Our Twitter account @THSTOfficial and our general email address info@THSTOfficial.com are the quickest ways to reach us. We work alongside FSA caseworker Amanda Jacks and stewarding and security staff at THFC to ensure our fans have the best experience possible, and that any incidents are properly dealt with.
Safe and successful travels to all fans heading to Athens over the coming days.
THST Board
15 September 2019
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