Intrepid Liverpool army invades Kiev
THOUSANDS of Liverpool football fans are descending on the Ukrainian capital of Kiev as the team bids to win the Champions League final tonight.
Those lucky enough to have caught a flight were greeted by border guards face-painted with Liverpool colours at Kiev’s Boryspil International Airport.
Many fans congregated in the city’s bars, basking in 79F (26C) sunshine.
With a severe shortage of affordable direct flights to Kiev, supporters have been forced to use multiple forms of transport – often through two or three different countries.
Many chose to fly to the Polish capital Warsaw yesterday and took an overnight train, arriving at Kiev Passazhirskiy station this morning.
Some even had to go to Turkey, with Istanbul a popular layover destination, before flying north.
Lewis Maher, 25, and his friend Kurt Moore, 23, completed an extraordinary journey on Thursday after setting out from the Australian outback, 30 hours previously.
The duo first faced a 900-mile, eighthour drive to Melbourne.
Despite their car breaking down, they caught their flight and flew to Singapore, before boarding a 12-hour flight to Warsaw. They then flew to the Ukrainian capital.
Extortionate
Speaking from the shadows of St Sophia’s Cathedral, Mr Maher, from Cambridge, said: “I wouldn’t change this for the world. It’s been a great experience.
“We spent £1,500 on tickets and around £900 each on return flights.”
An inheritance Mr Moore had earmarked for a house deposit ensured they got there, said Mr Maher, who will pay the money back to his friend.
Ajan Das, 42, originally from London, set out from his home in Malaysia on Tuesday.
He said: “I haven’t felt the pain of the journey, the excitement just takes over. I can feel the adrenaline now.”
Hotel prices have risen to extortionate rates and many Ukrainians have opened up their homes, offering free accommodation to fans.
Nick and Carol Haake have completed the 1,700-mile journey even though they do not have a ticket.
They are describing the jaunt as an “extended honeymoon” after marrying six weeks ago.
Nick, 56, said they flew to Warsaw on Wednesday before a 13-hour bus journey across the Ukrainian border.
“Our host, Anna, who is giving us free accommodation, came to pick us up from the bus stop,” he said.
“This family are just amazing. They are so embarrassed by the prices of the hotels.”
A fan was mugged at Kiev airport on Wednesday by thugs apparently Liverpool fans in high spirits in the city centre yesterday, above, and, right, Ukrainian thugs stand handcuffed outside the restaurant where Liverpool fans were attacked on Thursday night dressed as police officers. And two Liverpool fans were injured on Thursday night after 20 masked attackers targeted them as they ate dinner just yards from the stadium.
Ticket touts have been taking advantage of desperate fans, with some websites charging £14,000 – a huge increase on the most expensive £400 ticket from Liverpool FC.