*UPDATED* important information for travelling to AEK Athens

The club has held meetings with the Greek Police, AEK Athens and UEFA in preparation for our match in Greece in November.

This information was updated on Tuesday 7 November.

We urge all supporters to follow this guidance to ensure a safe and secure stay in Athens.

Overview:

1. Ticket collection will be situated a short walk from the Melina Mercouri Monument, where there are plenty of bars and restaurants. 
2. 15 minutes walk from the monument is where we are advised the meeting point for the shuttle buses will be.
3. We now have confirmation from AEK Athens the shuttle buses will take supporters to the stadium from outside Panathenaic Stadium (this is NOT the home of Panathinaikos, but the location of the first Olympic Games, also known as Kallimarmaro).
4. Supporters should be at the shuttle bus meeting point between 3.30pm-4pm to allow for searching and ticket checks before boarding.
5. Expect a hold back of at least 45 minutes post-match in the visitor supporter seating.
6. Street crime, including pickpocketing can take place in Athens. Be vigilant, take sensible precautions and have valid travel insurance. For safety advice please click here.

Useful information:

1. Consular enquiries can be directed to https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-athens
2. A club travel line, will be available throughout the matchday and up until kick-off for any supporters experiencing problems. This number will be promoted to fans travelling in due course.
3. While in Athens supporters are advised to follow our dedicated twitter handle to ensure they are informed with up-to-date information from the club, Sussex Police and Greek Police. This will be provided to ticket holders nearer the date of the game.
4. The official currency of Greece is the Euro.

Passport validity

Check that your passport meets these requirements before travelling:

1. Passports must have been issued less than ten years before the date of entry to Greece (check the ‘date of issue’) and be valid for at least three months after the day of departure (check the ‘expiry date’).
2. 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.

Ticket Collection & ID

1. Every individual ticket holder will be required to collect their tickets in person, with matching photo ID (driving license/passport only) from the ticket collection point near to the Melina Mercouri Monument. Precise details of the location of the collection point will be emailed directly to ticket holders.  
2. The collection point will be open from 4pm until 7pm the day before the match.
3. On the day of the match, collections will open from 10am until 4pm (due to shuttle bus departure time).
4. Supporters are strongly advised to arrive early for ticket collection to avoid long queues. 
5. All tickets must be collected from the collection point, there will be no exceptions.

Getting to the stadium

AEK Athens and the Greek Police have confirmed the following arrangements and we await confirmation of this in the coming days:

1. All away supporters are advised for their safety and security to take the transfer buses from outside Kallimamaro (Panathenaic Stadium) which will take fans straight to the stadium. 
2. Tickets will be checked and body searches will take place before getting on the buses. 
3. Supporters in Block 47 will need to board different buses to those in Blocks 46&48, please check before you board.
4. Supporters must meet at the shuttle bus point between 3.30pm-4pm, with the journey taking around one hour through central Athens. 
5. Further security checks will take place at the stadium turnstiles. Time will be required to allow for these checks and entry through the four away turnstiles.

The shuttle bus collection point:

Wheelchair Users

Wheelchair users will have cars arranged by AEK Athens to take them direct to the stadium, as the shuttle buses are not accessible. 

At the OPAP Arena

The stadium will be open to visiting supporters from three hours prior to kick off. Food and drink may not be taken into the stadium.

Entry to the away end is through dedicated turnstiles.

1. Away Supporters Area: Blocks 46, 47 & 48
2. Recommended ambulant seating area: front of block 47
3. Category 1 tickets: Block 35
4. Wheelchair Area: Block 39

Away Visitors Seating

The visitors’ section is seated and located in Blocks 46, 47 and 48.  The upper tiers block 46 and 48 are up 50 steps, with a further climb of 31 steps to the back row. The segregation in the upper tier is made of Perspex screens.

Lower Tier Block 47

We are advised by AEK Athens that in the lower tier, the Perspex segregation may be removed and a netting and stewarding/police segregation line put in place on either side of our supporters. Perspex screens and netting will be in place at the front of the stand.  We would recommend the front rows of the lower section, which have less steps, to those with walking difficulties.

Category 1 tickets

1. Category 1 tickets are located in Block 35 and entrance to this is through Gate 35.
2. BHAFC stewards will be present in this area.
3. There will be no hold back within category 1 seats.

Wheelchair Users Block 39

Access to the wheelchair section is through gate 39. BHAFC stewards will be present at the entrance and inside the stadium. 

We have an allocation of ten wheelchair spaces, within the home section of the stadium and sat in block 39, behind the goal and raised off the floor in two rows. PA seats are sat next to the wheelchair users. Access to the seating is via a ramp, within the concourse there is an accessible catering kiosk and an accessible toilet nearby.

Accessible Seating Block 47

Supporters with walking difficulties are advised to book in Block 47 in front rows. This area still has approximately eight steps to access the block. 

Alcohol & Catering

Alcohol is not permitted in football stadiums in Greece. Non-alcoholic beer will be available to buy in the Opap Arena.

Food and drink cannot be taken into the stadium but can be bought from the kiosks within the stadium using cash or card.

Bag Policy

Only very small bags and purses will be permitted into the stadium. Do not bring bags larger than 25cm x 25cm x 25cm to the stadium. There are no bag storage facilities at the stadium.  Supporters must leave bags at their overnight accommodation.

Flags and banners

Flags and banners are permitted and a fire safety certificate (no larger than 2m x 1.5m) will need to be shown on entry. Flags will be checked by stewards before admission. No political messaging or flags of countries in conflict will be permitted. Flag poles are not permitted.

Prohibited items

Smoking and vaping is permitted in the stadium.

The image below shows what will not be allowed into the stadium:

Phone battery packs/power banks are also not allowed.

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.

Shuttle buses will, subject to confirmation from AEK Athens, take supporters back to the location of the shuttle bus meeting point, outside Panathenaic Stadium, after the match.

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 buy tickets for away games and then find they are unable to travel MUST email supporter.services@brightonandhovealbion.com as early as possible. Supporters who do not collect tickets or attend the match may face sanctions including being unable to buy for future away matches.