This year’s final provided the newly reelected Erdogan with one of his first opportunities to face his European counterparts in government and civil society after liberally deploying anti-Western rhetoric throughout his presidential campaign.
The stadium was originally constructed as part of Istanbul’s failed bid for the 2008 Olympics and has served as a venue for one Champions League final in the past-the 2005 match between AC Milan and Liverpool. Like many of Istanbul’s other cultural landmarks, the Olympic stadium is named after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first president of the modern Turkish Republic, which turns 100 in October.
Police search Manchester City fans outside Ataturk Olympic Stadium before the UEFA Champions League final match in Istanbul on June 10. Manchester City fans stand in front of metal crowd-control gates outside the stadium as uniformed Turkish police officers search them. Turkish authorities and UEFA were also keen to project control after rumors that the match would be moved out of Turkey due to projected political unrest following the country’s pivotal election just weeks before, when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured an unprecedented third term in office. UEFA was found primarily responsible for chaos at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris-when visiting fans were tear-gassed and pepper sprayed by local police at congested stadium entrances-and this year no one in event management wanted to take any chances. The checkpoints were put in place by UEFA and Turkish law enforcement. After a tense showdown, Manchester City won 1-0. But they were overwhelmingly merry as they chanted, waved flags, riled up fellow supporters, and teased their opponents. This year’s final pit Manchester City against Inter Milan and-between the traffic, police barricades, and other security measures-some attendees reportedly walked up to five miles to attend. The final is widely regarded as the most prestigious match in global club soccer. During the annual tournament, organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)-the governing body of European soccer-elite clubs compete to earn the title of best in Europe. ISTANBUL-Soccer fans from around the world navigated a logistical labyrinth to reach Ataturk Olympic Stadium on June 10 for the 2023 Champions League Final.
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