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Football travel advice: AFC Astra versus Celtic FC

Travel advice for Celtic fans traveling to Giurgiu, Romania, for the match AFC Astra v Celtic FC on Thursday 6 November 2014

From:
British Embassy Bucharest
Published
31 October 2014
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Football kick

Advice for fans travelling to Romania for Celtic FC match with AFC Astra on Thursday 6 November 2014

  • Date: 6 November 2014

  • Venue: Marin Anastasovici Stadium, Giurgiu

  • Kick off time: 2000hrs (local + 2hrs GMT)

As well as this advice, check out our travel advice for Romania

Passports and visas

  • You don’t need a visa to travel to Romania, but your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay
  • Remember to bring 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
  • We advise football fans to leave their passports in the hotel safe and use another form of ID, for example a driving licence or a photocopy of your passport.

Getting to the stadium

Giurgiu is approximately an hour and a half by coach south of Bucharest (approx 64km). Traffic can be problematic particularly when leaving Bucharest and sufficient time should be given to making this journey

You can travel from Bucharest to Giurgiu by train or coach. Trains leave from Bucharest North Station (București Gara de Nord) while coaches/mini-buses to Giurgiu can be taken mostly from the southern part of the city. You can find train timetables here (only in Romanian)

It is an approximately 2 km distance from the train station in Giurgiu to the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici, home of AFC Astra. You can find a map of the stadium’s location here

There are usually taxis available at the train station. Celtic fans should arrive early to access the stadium and take extra time when entering and leaving the seating deck area.

At the match

The Celtic support are located in Sectors 7 & 8 which are dedicated to visiting fans. Please note the following information:

  • Do not travel to the stadium unless you have an official ticket for this fixture, there will be no match day sales for visiting fans
  • Celtic supporters purchasing tickets within the home support may be asked to leave the stadium

Celtic fans should arrive early to access the stadium and take extra time when entering and leaving the seating deck area. The gates will be open 1800hrs.

  • The first ticket check will be at the gate leading from the public road into the stadium area
  • Visiting spectators should expect to be searched prior to entering the turnstiles
  • There are only two turnstiles for visiting supporters. The turnstiles are operated by barcode reader. To ensure you do not miss the start of the game, arrive early
  • Sectors 7 and 8, are accessed one single gate and one double gate each, please take your time when entering and leaving the sectors.
  • Temporary toilet facilities and a food outlet will be provided on match day
  • At the end of the match visiting fans may be held back for up to 15 minutes
  • Banners and flags are permitted
  • Alcohol, professional cameras, guns, fire sources, fireworks, pyrotechnics, firecrackers, glass or plastic bottle, umbrellas, are not allowed in the stadium

Tips

  • No alcohol is allowed at the match. Fans who are appear drunk will be refused entry. Drinking on the streets is not permitted and you could be fined 50 Euros.
  • Urinating in public is prohibited
  • Loud shouting or singing after 10 pm is considered disorderly conduct and you may be arrested
  • All drug-related and sex offences are treated seriously, the Age of consent 18
  • You should 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 or other Romanian cities 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
  • It is not advisable to drink the tap water

Contact the British Embassy Bucharest:

24 Jules Michelet 010463 Bucharest, Bucharest

Tel: (40) (21) 201 7200 (also for out of hours emergencies)

Office hours: Monday to Friday: 0800 - 1300 and 1400 - 1600 For more information please visit our website

Emergency services number: 112

Further information

Published 31 October 2014

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