Liverpool supporters have hit out at governing body UEFA over conditions faced ahead of their Champions League tie against Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The Reds will take on Galatasaray on Tuesday night at the 53,978-capacity RAMS Park in Istanbul.
Fans have highlighted travel advice provided ahead of the match, which includes a lengthy bus journey with no toilet facilities and the removal of everyday personal items to enter the stadium.
Liverpool’s travel advice for fans reads: ’30 free 80-seater buses will be in operation from Sultanahmet Square to RAMS Park Stadium, supporters must travel by these free buses in order to access the stadium.
‘Please arrive at the square by 17:30 for an 18:00 departure. Our understanding is that the buses will be equipped with phone charging points.
‘Supporters arriving at the stadium by any means other than the pre-arranged shuttle buses will not be permitted access to the stadium. Buses are not accessible and do not have toilet facilities on board.
‘The estimated journey time from the meeting point to the stadium is around 60 minutes but traffic in Istanbul can be extremely busy which can extend travel times.’
Liverpool fans have hit out at conditions they face for their match against Galatasaray
Fans face lengthy bus journeys with no toilet facilities and face having to give up everyday items to enter the stadium due to security measures
The club added that supporters ‘will be searched both before and after entering the turnstiles. Anything that can be considered a projectile by stadium authorities will be seized. This includes items such as power banks, make-up and ear pods.’
Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool Supporters Union, stated that the club had raised serious concerns over the ‘degrading’ treatment of fans to UEFA but these had been ‘ignored’.
The group cited similar treatment of Manchester United and Tottenham supporters in Istanbul, while stating that UEFA had failed to learn lessons from the 2022 Champions League final.
UEFA had reached a compensation settlement with fans last year following the chaos and treatment of fans around the final.
‘We remain deeply disappointed that, in 2025, fans are still being forced onto buses without toilets, told to surrender everyday items such as power banks, iPods and headphones despite digital-only tickets, and left without absolute clarity on medical exemptions for vital equipment such as inhalers or diabetic supplies. Supporters are understandably concerned,’ a Spirit of Shankly statement read.
‘This is not unique to Liverpool fans. Manchester United and Tottenham supporters faced similar restrictions in Istanbul, and we are being warned of potentially worse treatment for fans travelling to Marseille.
‘After the Paris final in 2022, UEFA commissioned an independent review that produced clear recommendations to ensure better treatment of supporters. Yet what we are seeing here shows no lessons have been learned. The time taken producing that report looks wasted when supporters continue to face systemic failings.
‘Supporters deserve better. We intend to come together with other supporter organisations across Europe to push for meaningful change before these repeated failures lead to serious consequences for fans’ safety.
The Spirit of Shankly suggested UEFA had failed to learn lessons from the 2022 Champions League final regarding the treatment of fans
UEFA received recommendations to ensure better treatment of fans following major issues around the 2022 showpiece in Paris
‘After this fixture, we will press for answers and accountability from UEFA, who cannot continue to ignore these failures.’
Journalist David Lynch backed the group’s concerns, labelling UEFA’s treatment of supporters as an ‘absolute disgrace’.
‘If you’re going to make it so, so difficult for fans to come and watch football in your stadiums, then you shouldn’t be in the competitions until you can guarantee the safety of those supporters,’ Lynch told the Anfield Index.
‘When you read the list of conditions that fans have got to go through, like no toilets on the coaches, you have to go hours and hours before the game, you’re not allowed a power bank so your phone might be dead by the end of the game.
‘Who’s doing this for fun? You’re not going into battle; it’s supposed to be an enjoyable experience. I think it’s an absolute disgrace.
‘UEFA couldn’t give a hoot about that at the moment. It’s just not right. I couldn’t believe what I was reading when Liverpool published the information.’
Arne Slot’s side face Galatasaray in their second Champions League match of the campaign
Galatasaray supporters have been known for creating an intimidating atmosphere at home and ahead of the match have tried to impact Liverpool players.
Footage shared on social media showed fans setting off fireworks outside Liverpool’s team hotel at around 3am in an attempt to disturb their sleep prior to the match.
Liverpool will be hoping to build on their dramatic 3-2 victory of Atletico Madrid in their first Champions League match of the campaign when Arne Slot’s side face Galatasaray.
Galatasaray were beaten 5-1 in their opening match of the competition by Eintracht Frankfurt, despite taking the lead in Germany.
