Supporters travelling to France for our first UEFA Europa League group stage match against Olympique de Marseille on Thursday 5 October are advised to read the following important information in full….
Kick-off is 6.45pm local time, 5.45pm UK time.
Important and critical
The Club has held meetings with the French Police, Olympique de Marseille and UEFA in preparation for this match.
Supporters can expect a hostile environment and should exercise caution at all times in Marseille. The Club strongly urges all supporters to follow this guidance to ensure a safe and secure stay in France.
Arriving in Marseille
Supporters are advised by French Police:
- Do not visit the Old Port (Vieux Port) area of Marseille during their stay. Any Brighton supporters identified within this area could be fined by the authorities.
- When travelling around the city - do not to wear anything that will identify themselves as Brighton & Hove Albion supporters or congregate in large groups. Sussex Police will be present in the city to work with supporters and the local authorities.
- Street crime, including pickpocketing can take place in Marseille. Be vigilant, take sensible precautions and have valid travel insurance.
- Carry photo ID (passport) at all times in the city.
- La Joliette area of Marseille has bars and restaurants where supporters should base themselves on the day of the match. Additional food and drink facilities and a DJ will be provided in Place de la Joliette.
Useful information:
- The government’s travel advice for France. Consular enquiries can be directed to gov.uk/contact-consulate-marseille.
- A Club travel line, will be available throughout the matchday and up until kick off of the match for any supporters experiencing problems. This number will be promoted to fans travelling in due course.
- Whilst in France supporters are advised to follow a dedicated twitter handle to ensure they are informed with up-to-date information from the Club and Police. This will be provided to ticket holders nearer the date of the game.
- The official currency of France is the Euro.
Passport validity
Passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry to France (check the ‘date of issue’) and be valid for at least three months after the day of departure (check the ‘expiry date’).
Passports issued before 1 October 2018 may have extra months added to their expiry date which will not be valid when travelling to the EU. Supporters are advised to check their passports meet these requirements before travelling.
Ticket Collection & ID
- Every individual ticket holder will be required to collect their tickets in person, with matching photo ID (passport) from the ticket collection point near to Place de la Joliette. Details of the location of the collection point will be emailed directly to supporters with visitor section tickets.
- The collection point will be open from afternoon to early evening the day before the match.
- On the day of the match, collections will open from the morning until 90 minutes before kick-off.
- Supporters are strongly advised to arrive early for ticket collection to avoid long queues.
- All tickets must be collected from the collection point, there will be no exceptions.
- The French Police have advised that supporters must show their tickets to board the transfer buses to the stadium and must carry photo ID (passport) at all times in the city.
Getting to the stadium
Those with tickets in the visitors’ section:
- Local authorities require all away supporters with tickets in the visitors’ section to use a complimentary bus service from Place de la Joliette in the La Joliette area of the city. Accessible buses will take supporters direct to the visitors’ section turnstiles, which is inside the stadium.
- Buses will travel in multiple convoys with a police escort. The time of the first convoy will be advised nearer the date of the game and supporters are advised to be at the departure point prior to this time. The transfer to the stadium will take 30 minutes or more.
- Supporters match tickets will be checked before boarding buses.
- BHAFC stewards and liaison staff will be on hand in the area to assist supporters.
- For security reasons, under no circumstances should supporters with tickets in the visitors’ section take alternative transport to the stadium.
- The same operation will also be in place after the game to return fans to Place de la Joliette.
La Joliette has bars and restaurants where supporters should base themselves on the day of the match, prior to the start of the bus service. Additional food and drink facilities and a DJ will be provided in Place de la Joliette.
Those with Category 1 tickets:
- Category 1 ticket holders MUST NOT use the complimentary bus service from Place de la Joliette as this only accesses the visitors section turnstiles.
- Category 1 ticket holders are advised to travel independently using the Metro (line 2) to Rond Point du Prado. This journey takes approximately 20 minutes. For return, the Marseille Metro network closes at midnight.
Transport for Wheelchair Users
Wheelchair users can pre-book taxis to and from the stadium by contacting the Metropolitan Transport Authority. MTA can be contacted by email at mobimetropole@rtm.fr or by calling +33491105900.
The following information will need to be provided to book the service:
- number of wheelchair persons & number of PA’s
- which kind of wheelchair (electric or manual).
- readable copy of ID and “mobility card”
- address of the hotel/ pick-up hour at the hotel/ pick-up hour at the stadium.
Category 1 ticket holders should travel to the stadium using the metro or other means of transport. Category 1 ticket holders MUST NOT use the complimentary bus service from Place de la Joliette as this only accesses the visitors section turnstiles.
At Orange Vélodrome
The stadium will be open to visiting supporters on arrival. Please note, food and drink cannot be taken into the stadium.
The visitors’ section is seated and located in the Tribune Jean Bouin on the western side of the stadium. Please note the upper tiers of the stadium are extremely high and top tier seats require climbing more than 200 steps.
Wheelchair spaces are within the visitors’ section in block AA, some PA seats are seated in the row of the wheelchair space, but most are situated in the row in front.
BHAFC stewards will be present at the entrance and inside the stadium.
Safety netting is in place across the entire visiting area.
Supporters with Category 1 tickets
- Category 1 tickets are located in Block D of the Tribune Jean Bouin on the western side of the stadium. Category 1 tickets are located in the home section of the stadium. Supporters are reminded not to wear anything that would identify themselves as BHAFC supporters.
- When arriving at the Orange Velodrome take the steps up to the main entrance and turn left at the top, the entrance for category 1 seats is at Entrance 4.
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces are located on a designated platform within the visitors’ section, Block AA. Some PA seats are in a row directly in front of the designated platform.
Supporters with walking difficulties or those who require an area where fans remain seated throughout the game are advised to book in Block AA. This area still has steps to access the block. If you are unable to manage steps, please make yourself known to a steward who can assist you.
BHAFC stewards will be present in this area.
Alcohol
Following a request from the Club, Olympique de Marseille will make alcohol available to BHAFC supporters at the stadium.
Bag Policy
Only very small bags and purses will be permitted into the stadium. Do not bring bags larger than A4 size to the stadium. Bag storage facilities will not be available at the stadium.
Flags and banners
Flags and banners are permitted and a fire safety certificate will need to be shown on entry. Flags will be checked by Olympique de Marseille stewards before admission.
Payments
Kiosks will accept card and cash payments for food and drinks.
Prohibited items
The following will not be allowed into the stadium:
Phone battery packs are also not permitted.
Leaving the stadium
Supporters will be held back inside the stadium for at least 45 minutes after the final whistle for safety reasons. Access to toilets and food and drink from kiosks will be available during this time. Supporters are politely asked to remain patient until permitted to leave.
Buses will take supporters back to La Joliette upon leaving the stadium. For category 1 ticket holders, the Marseille Metro network closes at midnight.
Travelling Abroad with BHAFC
We are proud of our fantastic support and remind all supporters to act as ambassadors of the Club and be respectful and considerate to those who live and work in the cities and countries we are fortunate to visit. Please do not place flags or banners on local statues or monuments.
Supporters are reminded that discriminatory behaviour which includes shouting, chanting or actions such as racist, xenophobic, sectarian, homophobic, sexist or anti-disability behaviour is unacceptable.
If you witness incidents like these, please notify a steward immediately.
The Club reserves the right to indefinitely ban supporters found guilty of using discriminatory language.
Unauthorised use of tickets
Supporters are reminded that the unauthorised reselling or passing on of tickets is strictly prohibited and any fans found doing so will face sanctions.
Supporters who purchase tickets for away games and then find they are unable to travel MUST email supporter.services@brightonandhovealbion.com as early as possible. Please note supporters who do not collect tickets or attend the match may face sanctions including being unable to purchase the future away matches.