Manchester United Fans Club

LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - Russia will ensure fans travelling to next month’s all-English Champions League final in Moscow get visas but said the process would have been easier if diplomatic ties with Britain were better.
Manchester United, who will face either Chelsea or Liverpool in the May 21 final, said on Wednesday fans would be able to get visas more easily than usual if they followed club guidelines.

‘Supporters travelling with charter flights approved by the club will benefit from an unprecedented facilitated visa procedure that will be detailed in the days to come,’ United said in a statement on their website.

The Russian consulate in London sought to reassure thousands of fans hoping to travel that they would get their visas despite the tight timeframe. Postal applicants are usually advised to allow 10 days for processing a tourist visa.

‘When Moscow was given the privilege of hosting this major sports event, the Russian side pledged to create most favourable conditions, including travel arrangements, for all the people attending the final,’ the consulate said in a statement.

‘We intend to fulfil our obligations and ensure that all the supporters will be able to travel to the final venue.’

Moscow and London are locked in a row over the 2006 murder of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, involving diplomatic expulsions, angry rhetoric and a tightening of procedures for issuing visas by both countries.

The Russian consulate said visa processing for fans would have been easier if this row was not going on and that it would be making life easier for British fans than London was making it for Russian fans travelling to Britain for matches.

‘We are certain that the situation would have been far less complicated if the United Kingdom government had not chosen, in July 2007, to suspend negotiations on a bilateral visa facilitation agreement with Russia and to impose a stricter approach to Russian nationals applying for UK visas,’ the consulate’s statement said.

‘The arrangements that we will put in place will be substantially more favourable than those for Russian football team supporters who are planning to travel to the UK.’

It said fans of Zenit St Petersburg, hoping to beat Bayern Munich on Thursday to reach the UEFA Cup final in Manchester, had been told their British visa applications would include a biometric test and possible interview with consulate officials.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA confirmed it had been told visa processing would be quicker than usual if supporters went through their clubs.

‘Fans have to apply directly through their clubs. They have to get tickets and then with the help of a ticket they can get a visa a bit quicker than usual,’ a UEFA spokesman said.

Chelsea has joined Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final at the Luzhniki Stadium Moscow, Russia.

Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2 in the semifinal 2nd leg and go through 4-3 on aggregate score. The match went into extra time following the 90 minute 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard scored from penalty in the 98 minute of extra time, followed by Didier Drogba in 105 minute to make it 3-1 for Chelsea. Ryan Babel scored in the 117 minute but was not enough to save Liverpool from elimination.

Paul Scholes scored the only goal of the game to bring himself and Manchester United to this year UEFA Champions League Final at the Luzhniki Stadium Moscow, Russia.

Scholes himself will defitnetely start the final barring any injury from the midfield maestro, after the heartbreak for missing the Champions League final in 98/99 season through suspension.

Manchester United will either face Chelsea or Liverpool in the final, a all-English showdown in Russia. I predict Chelsea will go thru the final having scored a crucial away goal at Anfield coupled with the proud home record and Liverpool unable to get a desired results for their past few visit to Stamford Bridge.

Bring on Chelsea, we want revenge for the recent Stamford Bridge reverse.

Sir Alex Ferguson fired his rifle again at the Premier League schedules again after finding them on the wrong end of an “unfair” fixture schedule.

After a boring draw in the hard-fought Champions League semifinal with Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, thank to Ferguson negative tactic and Ronaldo penalty miss after 3 minute of the game. Sir Alex abandoned their usual strategy of immediately returning to the north-west in favor of staying overnight in Catalonia for a relaxing sunny day with the rest of the players.

United, then flew to London on Thursday night before undergoing a light training session in the capital on Friday morning as final preparation for their title showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Brigde.

A lunch time kick off win for the Red Devils would secure back-to-back titles for United barring a mathematical miracle for Avram Grant’s men which they would have to score a 9-0 or 10-0 win in their last two games and United scoring a single goal each since United superior goal different advantages.

Ferguson has noted the fixture list is in Chelsea’s favor given the Londoner gained an extra 24 hours’ rest following their equally tense draw with Liverpool.

Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Darren Fletcher’s patience and determination to be an important squad member for United after turning in another impressive performance, this time against Lyon in the Champions League.

Fletcher went about his work quietly but effectively, breaking up Lyon attacks and displaying his wide range of passing, reason enough for Sir Alex to feel justified in leaving Paul Scholes on the bench.

“It was a big decision because Scholes’ performance against Fulham was vintage,” he said. “If the game had been on Wednesday I would have played him. But I had to ask the question with it being three days after the Fulham, especially given the time he has been out injured and his age.

“Darren came in to do a job, which he did very effectively. He’s not easy to play against. I wouldn’t like to play against him. He has such a long stretch, which means he can close players down quickly and he wins possession without conceding many fouls. That was important to us, because Juninho’s ability from set-pieces could have been a threat to us.” Read the rest of this entry »

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 30th of the season against Lyon in Champions League 2nd leg tie at Old Trafford. Ronaldo again showed his liking for the big stage by scoring the only goal to steered United into quarter-finals and set a 10th straight home victory in the competition, equaling Juventus’ record set 11 years ago.

Ronaldo scored in the 41st minute to break Lyon’s resistance and secure a place in the quarter-finals. The French side carved out a couple of decent chances before United made the breakthrough.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were highly motivated from the off and Patrice Evra let his enthusiasm get the better of him. He picked up a booking after only four minutes for a challenge on Karim Benzema.

The highly-rated Lyon striker had scored a superb opening goal in the first leg and Ferguson knew the danger he posed.

United made a swift break in the 10th minute and there was a buzz of anticipation around the ground as Ronaldo collected the ball. Read the rest of this entry »

Ryan Giggs is Sir Alex Ferguson’s only doubt ahead of the clash with Lyon as he is struggling with a calf problem. The Welsh winger has been hampered by the injury since the first leg of the Champions League tie.

Ferguson said: “The knock he took in the Lyon game has proved to be a bit more complicated than we first thought. “He did a bit in training on Monday morning but he is still doubtful for the game.”

Giggs is unlikely to be risked but Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic looks set to return to the side. He trained following a similar injury to Giggs and looks likely to resume his partnership with Rio Ferdinand at the back.

Meanwhile, Ferguson is banking on Manchester United chalking up another important milestone and advancing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Victory over Lyon will see his side equal Juventus’ record in the competition of 10 straight home victories in the competition. Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester United earned a valuable three points at Craven Cottage with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham, while Arsenal could only manage a draw across town at the Emirates Stadium. Over the last two matches, United had managed to cut Arsenal 5 points lead at the top to 1 point lead at the moment.

The title race is getting crucial at this part, any mistake will cost us dearly, of course we would like to see Arsenal continue to suffer their dip in form, in contrast, United look to have recapture their form and momentum with every single squad players contributing to United matches lately.

A Simon Davies own goal rounded off the scoring after first-half goals from Owen Hargreaves and Ji-sung Park had put United in the driving seat.

Last season, Craven Cottage was the scene for late drama as Cristiano Ronaldo capped a stunning 88th-minute dribble with a shot to match. It gave the Reds a come-from-behind 2-1 victory and, among fans at least, belief that Sir Alex’s side had the necessary character to go on and win the league.

Today, victory was less dramatic and yet just as significant. With Arsenal stumbling at the Emirates, this weekend could well prove the difference come the end of the season.

Perhaps with one eye on Tuesday’s crucial Champions League match, Sir Alex opted to leave out Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Nemanja Vidic, although he did field former Fulham favourites Edwin van der Sar and Louis Saha. Read the rest of this entry »

Manchester United travel to Craven Cottage for the 28th games of the season, a crucial game for United who is trailing Arsenal by 3 points in Barclay Premier League table.

Ryan Giggs is set to miss Saturday match as he rests a strained calf. The former Welsh midfielder looks likely to sit out the game with a Champions League date to follow on Tuesday against Lyon at Old Trafford.

Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra have recovered from a calf strain and a stomach virus respectively but Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre remain sidelined as United aim to close a three points gap on leaders Arsenal.

But Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he is wary that Chelsea could come up on the rails and take the Barclays Premier League title from under the noses of the top two. Read the rest of this entry »

UEFA Champions League Final at Moscow Luzhniki Stadium with a capacity of 69,500 seats are available for sale now via UEFA website now. Approximately 10,500 tickets are available for sale to fans worldwide.

A total of 75 per cent of the tickets are reserved for the general public and the supporters of the two finalists. Each finalist club is able to take up to 21,000 tickets and distribute these directly to its supporters.

UEFA will take stern action against whoever found guilty of infringement. UEFA underlines that no tickets are being distributed via agencies or brokers. UEFA also encourages fans not to be lured into deals with touts who not only demand exorbitant prices, but are often not in possession of the tickets they purport to have for sale. Online applications will be checked to ensure that anyone banned from attending football matches is unsuccessful in any attempt to purchase tickets.

For full details of ticketing, please visit UEFA Tickets

Terms and conditions will be available on uefa.com.