Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Many Club Brugge supporters face travel issues as their match against Almaty moves 1,200 km to Astana Arena. Frederik Van Eenoo criticises UEFA and suggests winter scheduling changes.
As VRT News reported, many Club Brugge supporters are facing challenges attending the European match against the Kazakh team Almaty. The city of Almaty is in southeastern Kazakhstan, where winter temperatures can drop well below freezing. Fans are also concerned because the local stadium does not meet UEFA standards for a Champions League game.
“Right after the draw, Club Brugge supporters look up which stadium the match will be in and book flights and accommodation,”
says Frederik Van Eenoo of Locals 78, Club Brugge’s largest supporters’ club.
“That way, they get in early and can keep the price down. This way, they can watch as many Club Brugge matches as cheaply as possible.”
What could UEFA have done to prevent Club Brugge fans’ travel problems?
To address the issue, the match has been moved 1,200 kilometres north to the Astana Arena in Kazakhstan’s capital. Club Brugge usually sells out its away tickets for European matches, and the away section at the Astana Arena can hold about 1,000 fans.
Officials estimate that at least 25% of supporters will book tickets immediately, meaning roughly 250 fans could face problems arranging travel and attending the match due to the relocation and distance.
“Perhaps the supporters haven’t taken out cancellation insurance, so their ticket is essentially worthless. The only thing I can recommend is taking a domestic flight, which will cost around 50 to 60 euros.”
“UEFA knows which teams are in the competition, so they could also estimate the temperatures in Almaty?”
Frederik Van Eenoo, supporters team 78 Locals
According to Van Eenoo, UEFA could have prevented the problems with Club Brugge’s European match against Almaty. The Kazakh league is suspended in winter because temperatures drop very low. UEFA still scheduled the match during this period.
Van Eenoo said,
“UEFA knows which teams are in the league. They can also estimate the temperatures in Almaty.”
Van Eenoo suggests a solution. Kazakh teams could play all home league games before the winter break. He mentioned that this would let European away matches happen when temperatures are milder. It would also reduce travel, as teams would fly less.
Winter conditions have influenced some UEFA matches for local clubs in Belgium. In 2022, Royal Antwerp and other clubs encountered difficulties with the scheduling of away matches in colder countries. Accordingly, clubs sometimes requested neutral venues, rescheduling, or other approaches to ensure the well-being of players and spectators. Belgian authorities also apply safety measures, including reflective signs, road markers, and road markers, throughout the winter season to limit accidents.
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