Montenegro v England football game – advice for visiting fans
Travel advice for England FA fans travelling to Podgorica for the Montenegro v England representation match on 25 March 2019.
Fixture information
| Date | Monday 25 March 2019 |
| Venue | City Stadium, Podgorica |
| Kick off time | 8:45pm (local time); 7:45pm (UK time) |
Please read this advice in conjunction with our travel advice for Montenegro.
Passports and visas
- you do not need a visa to travel to Montenegro if you have a British Citizen passport but your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after your planned date of departure from Montenegro
- registration with the local police in the town you are staying is obligatory within 24 hours of arrival. However, if you are staying in a hotel, you will be registered automatically on checking-in
- under Montenegrin law, you must carry a valid form of ID/passport with you at all times, otherwise you may be fined
- you will need your passport and your match ticket to enter the stadium
- if you lose your passport, or have it stolen, apply online for Emergency Travel Document. Contact the British Embassy on +382 20 420 100 or book an appointment online
- take out travel insurance even if you’re only going for one day. If you get into difficulties, it could save you a lot of money
- there is a reciprocal healthcare agreement for British nationals, which entitles you to free emergency treatment in Montenegro. Remember to bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you, as it will serve as proof of your entitlement to the free medical care. This will not cover medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature
Getting to the stadium
- the match will be played at the City Stadium in Podgorica. It is located in the city centre, next to Gorica hill
- kick off time is 8:45pm local time (7:45pm UK). The stadium gates will open three hours before kick-off
- there will be checks of tickets and IDs. There will be body searches to ensure inappropriate items are not brought into the stadium. Fans are advised to arrive one to two hours before the kick-off in order to allow appropriate time for these security checks. Late arrivals will still need to go through full checks and may miss the beginning of the match
- taxis are plentiful and cheap by UK standards. Most taxis are metered and generally considered reliable. Bear in mind that taxis parked outside of stations, airports or hotels can be more expensive than others. We advise you ask your accommodation to order a taxi for you
At the stadium
There will be a police presence at the stadium. England fans will be located on the south side of the stadium. No weapons or items that can endanger the safety of participants and spectators will be allowed into the Stadium. This includes, but it not limited to:
- pyrotechnical items
- alcoholic drinks
- cans, glass and plastic bottles
- flags and banners with long wooden sticks
- mirrors, lasers and similar items which can be used to distract participants of a sporting event
- all kinds of paper rolls and throwable items which can endanger persons or property
- bringing animals to the stadium is also forbidden, except police dogs and trained guide dogs for the blind
In addition:
- it is forbidden to put set anything on fire in the stadium
- it is forbidden to enter the area designated for rival fans
- banners, flags or any other item with an image, text or sign which incite violence, national, racial, religious hate or intolerance are forbidden. In addition it is forbidden to sing songs which incite violence, national, racial, religious hate or intolerance
- visibly drunk persons will not be allowed entrance to the stadium
- away fans may be held in the stadium for up to half an hour after the game has finished to allow home fans the time to disperse
Tickets
For ticketing information, visit the Football Association of England (FA) website.
It is now standard practice at England away games that all ESTC members are required to collect their own tickets in person, at the FA’s ticket collection point. For this game, members will also be issued with wristbands which will also be required to be worn in order to access the England sector of the ground.
Ticket collection for this game will be arranged on match day only, between the hours of 11:00am and 7:45pm (one hour before the kick-off).
The location of the ticket collection point is at the Hilton Podgorica Crna Gora hotel. On this occasion, there will be no separate collection facility at the stadium. Everyone has to collect their own ticket, and you’ll need a photo ID (ESTC membership card, passport, driving licence etc.).
English football fans are advised not to buy tickets which are on sale or have been sold to Montenegrin fans. Such seats are located in other areas of the Stadium, and not in the area designated for away fans, with a separate entrance, fence and security personnel.
Ticket touting is illegal in Montenegro.
Staying safe
As in any other city, beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at airports, railway stations, around the town centre and when using public transport. Only carry what you need, leave spare cash and valuables securely in your hotel.
In an emergency
In Montenegro, you can dial public emergency line 112, for all types of emergencies. For consular emergencies call British Embassy Podgorica at +382 (0)20 420 100.