Chief Constable Mark Roberts has reason for the Champions League Final to be a success both on and off the pitch. He is National Lead for football policing and is determined City fans will have a safe journey to and from Istanbul as they chase the treble dream. The ex-GMP officer is also a Blue.
Now in charge of the Cheshire force, he will be at the sold-out game at the 70,000 capacity Ataturk Olympic Stadium of Saturday as gold commander for a contingent of British police officers - including a team from GMP - whose role will be to help ensure a trouble-free final as City take on Inter Milan.
Speaking from his office ahead of the game, where there is an Ajax pennant, Real Sociedad scarf, and a framed comment posted online by Russian hooligans about him - he urged City fans to respectful while in Turkey and travel in plenty of time to the stadium.
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Last year he went to Qatar to advise police and security chiefs in advance of the World Cup in November, and made visits during the tournament.
It is hoped there is no repeat of the shocking scenes at last year's final Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris when innocent Liverpool fans were left queuing for hours to try and get in and then sprayed with tear gas by French police.
Mark has worked at every international football tournament involving UK clubs since 2012. He has already liaised with Turkish authorities to share intelligence in preparation for the game.
"It is about working with people we know to make it safe. Last year, we offered to go to Paris to support Merseyside Police and the French refused us access. We would have been able to support Merseyside when making representations and when it went wrong - the Liverpool fans should get credit for their behaviour - with the crushing it could have got an awful lot worse. We (the UK Football Policing Unit) can liaise with the Foreign Office to add to weight to what is being said and gain evidence.
"This time round officers from UK Football Policing Unit are going in support of GMP - security spotters will be on the ground who know the fans. As a result of what happened last year it has been agreed more cops will go from the UK this year. We are going early to work with the authorities there. We will support GMP and liaise with the Foreign Office and UEFA, and Turkish national police."
He warned: "There are a lot ticket scams on the go. I hope people are not daft enough to go for them. We are picking up an awful lot on social media. We now they are scams because they are using the same phrases when offering tickets and is obviously just banging out lots of versions of the same thing hoping to fish someone in.
"So, for example, from bases in Istanbul two different people both start by saying 'I have two tickets for the Champions League Final' they then use an image of the cup, Manchester City, a blue heart, v Inter Milan, and 'do ring me if interested' and then a load of hashtags like #ManCity #InterMilan #Istanbul23 #ChampionsLeague
"The ruse is: send me the money and you can pick the tickets up in Istanbul. Fans just need to be wary. They are paying a lot of money to travel and I would urge caution if they are buying tickets - buy from an official source and do not be conned."
He added: "I would also urge fans to travel in plenty of time. Istanbul is well known for having a lot of traffic congestion. I would encourage people to get out to the fan zones. I know there will be the temptation to stay in the city and have a beer - but get to the stadium. You may be in the fan zone there for longer than wish - but the flip side is getting to the ground in plenty of time and getting in safely - or have a last minute scramble."
The kick off time for the game is 10pm local time and 8pm British time. "It will take an hour to get through security once you get the ground. Fans should also use the shuttle buses. The area that it is recommended City fans go to is Yenikapi and for Inter fans, Taksim Square. From there shuttle buses will take fans to their end of the ground.
"The other thing to mention is that the Metro exit to the stadium comes out at the Inter fans zone - so my advice is use the free shuttle buses not the Metro."
Turkey has just had a highly emotive presidential election which saw Tayyip Erdogan returned to power. "I don't sense any political hangover from the elections as a cause for concern. It seems to have calmed down after the election. There is no residual stuff which has been flagged up to us as a threat - but obviously we will keep monitoring it.
"Inter Milan are not a bad team in terms of trouble. Ultras can mean many things - like fans who like to be noisy and march. Inter Milan are not considered a problematic Italian team. There is nothing we have been told or assessed as concerning. We don't think Inter will try and attack City fans - there is no gurantee - but there is nothing to suggest it.
"The behaviour of Manchester City fans has been exemplerary in Europe this year. There is more going for this game - but in Porto when they were really disappointed there was no trouble. City fans just need to be sensible and be a good guest. Turkey is a very proud country and any disrespect to their culture should be avoided. Without being a killjoy we would say to people have a good time but be respectful - you might be speaking to Ilkay Gundogan's cousin.
"I would say, you are in a major city, so have your wits about you, and go where you are supposed to - the City fan zone."
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