Russia will ensure fans travelling to next month’s Champions League final in Moscow receive visas but admitted the process would have been easier if diplomatic relations with Britain were better.
Manchester United’s victory over Barcelona on Tuesday ensured an all-English final in Moscow on May 21, and according to the official United web site fans will be able to get visas in time for the final.
“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 Web site.
The Russian consulate in London sought to reassure fans that they would get their visas despite the tight timeframe.
“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.”
Russia and Britain are involved in a row over the 2006 murder of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, involving diplomatic expulsions 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.
“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 added that fans of Zenit St Petersburg, hoping 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.
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.
