Steaua Bucuresti vs Chelsea
Advice for fans travelling to Bucharest for Chelsea's match with Steaua Bucuresti on 1 October 2013
National Stadium Bucharest
Date: Tuesday 1 October 2013
Venue: National Arena, Bucharest
Kick off time: 21:45 (local time)
As well as this advice, check out our travel advice for Romania.
Passports and visas
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You don’t need a visa to travel to Romania, but your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay
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Remember your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but also take out travel insurance, even if you’re only going for one night - it could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties
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We advise football fans especially to leave their passports in the hotel safe and use another form of ID: e.g. driving licence or the passport photocopy
Getting to the stadium
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Independent travelling fans are expected to make their own arrangements for travel, transport and accommodation
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Public transport (buses or taxis) should be used. Taxis should state which company they belong to and what its tariffs are on the side. Rates vary from 1.4 RON per kilometre (Rate of Exchange £1 = Ron 5.00). Taxis outside the railway station, shopping centres and main hotels tend generally to be more expensive, but you could ask the concierge at your hotel to call you a cheaper one. Independent drivers may charge you a much higher rate than you would normally expect to pay
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Chelsea supporters should not use the Metro Station (Piata Muncii) closest to the stadium, as this would involve walking though a neighbourhood frequented by Steaua Bucharest supporters
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Away supporters will be required to go to a meeting point (on the approach to the stadium) at Strada Tony Bulandra and Strada Mr Ion Coravu. This is adjacent to a large sign “Baza Sportiva Electroaparataj”. From this location they will be escorted to the stadium’s away section by police
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Police have indicated that any persons identified as Chelsea supporters in the vicinity of the arena will be taken to the meeting point
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The City government and police will also provide a free shuttle bus service from a pick-up point at Str. Halelor in the Old Town area of Bucharest. (Close to a local landmark, the Manuc Inn). The free shuttle buses will transport all away supporters back to the Old Town area
At the match
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The National Stadium holds 55,634 supporters fully seated. It sits within a large park and is surrounded by open space. There is a high metal fence surrounding the outside of the whole venue with three large public access entrance gates
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There will be a first visual ticket check by police. Once through this gate all supporters can mix freely in a large open area until they enter the channelled search points, with searches by stewards, before entering the electronic turnstiles with bar code readers
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The majority of Chelsea supporters will enter the stadium by means of Gate H
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Turnstiles accessing the North upper tier would open between 2/3 hours prior to kick-off
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Away fans can be asked to remain in the stadium after the match has finished but any delay would be minimal and decided by police – potentially 15 to 30 minutes
Tips
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Fans are encouraged to get to the stadium early as entry is by bar-coded ticket only and scanning takes some time
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Fans can expect to be security checked more than once on the approach to the stadium
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No alcohol is allowed at the match. Fans who are obviously drunk will be refused entry
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Drinking on the streets is not permitted. Potential 50 Euro fine
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Urinating in public is prohibited
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Loud shouting or singing after 10 pm is considered disorderly conduct
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All drug-related or sex offences are treated seriously. (Age of consent 18)
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Photography is not permitted at airports and military bases. It is advisable to ask before photographing anything potentially sensitive
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You are advised to maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as in the UK. You should also be alert to the risk of petty theft in Bucharest and for pickpockets and bag snatchers in crowded areas, particularly near exchange shops, hotels, on public transport (especially to the airport), main railway stations and inside airport terminals. Organised attacks by groups, often including children, occur. The most common method is of distraction whilst several people, often the children, attempt to snatch watches and jewellery from pockets or from around the neck and wrist. We have also heard reports of a scam involving thieves who present themselves as plain-clothes policemen. They flash a badge and often ask to see passports and wallets. They count the money and give the documents back, but when they return the wallet, some of the money is missing
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Take special care not to leave jackets or bags containing wallets or passports unattended in restaurants and bars
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We are aware of thefts of valuables including passports from hotel rooms. Items of value, including passports and credit cards should be deposited in hotel safes. However, you should carry a photocopy of the information pages of your passport as ID or the driving licence
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You should be aware that there are reports of credit or charge cards being ‘copied’ when used in some bars and restaurants, resulting in illegal charges being raised against the user account
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It is not advisable to drink the tap water
Relevant British Embassy/Consulate address and telephone numbers
British Embassy
24 Jules Michelet
010463 Bucharest
Romania
Telephone: Main (40) (21) 201 7200
Office hours (GMT): Mon-Thurs: 0630-1500; Fri: 0630-1400 (From last Sun Oct - last Sun Mar)
Mon-Thurs: 0530-1400; Fri: 0530-1300 (From last Sun Mar - last Sun Oct)
Local Time: Mon-Thurs: 0830-1700; Fri: 0830-1600
Website: www.gov.uk/government/world/romania
Consular Section: tel. +40 21 201 73 51 Fax. +40 21 201 73 17
e-mail: press.bucharest@fco.gov.uk
Contact persons:
Anca Cretu – Vice Consul
Elena Penescu - Pro Consul
Emergency services numbers
Emergency Services : Dial 112
Further information
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Be aware of stray dogs