KOSOVOVS ENGLAND EUROPEAN QUALIFIER FOR UEFA EURO 2020 Sunday 17 November 2019 6pm (Local Time) Stadium, Prishtina

1 MEMBER INFORMATION

As this is the first time either side will have ever faced each other in Prishtina, we The FA continues to work hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for hope you follow the lead of others and make the experience of following the Three all supporters. If you witness any racist, homophobic, xenophobic or anti-social Lions a positive experience for all. behaviour before, during or after the v England match, you can report it in confidence by: Please treat locals and opposing fans in the same way that they would want to be treated. Incidents of poor behaviour before and during England matches can be • Emailing [email protected] detrimental to the reputation of England fans abroad. Members behaving in an • Calling or texting +44 7970 146 250 (this number is also printed on the back unacceptable manner whilst following ‘England away’ may result in: of your membership card • Refused entry or removal from the stadium. • Speaking to Wembley Stadium stewards at the stadium – they’ll be wearing • Suspension of the ESTC membership. coloured bibs with ‘Wembley Stadium’ printed on the back. • Withdrawal of EURO 2020 tickets. The FA will always investigate reports of inappropriate behaviour at an England game but we need the cooperation of members to help. For more information • The issue of a Football Banning Order. regarding fan behaviour at England matches, please refer to the ‘rules of • Report to the police and possible criminal proceedings. membership: http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/sep/04/estc-rules FA staff have the right to refuse tickets to members who are abusive and/or visibly intoxicated upon arrival at the Ticket Collection Point. Stadium security and local police have the right to refuse entry to any fans who are visibly intoxicated. Information in this travel guide was correct at the time of writing and was written with the help of Bersata, a Kosovan member of the Wembley Stadium team.

2 Passports and Visas Safety and Security

British nationals don’t need visas to enter Kosovo however you may be asked to To call the emergency services, dial 112 whilst in Kosovo. provide evidence giving a reason for your stay. Your passport must be undamaged If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 94 from a landline and valid for the duration of your stay. or 194 from a mobile. If you’re coming to Kosovo for a short stay (less than 90 days) and will be staying If you need emergency assistance from the UK government (for example if you’ve in a hotel or hostel, that business will notify the police of your presence on your been attacked, arrested or someone has died) whilst in Kosovo, call +383 (0) 38 behalf. If you’re staying in a private house then you must notify the nearest police 254 700. If you’re in the UK and worried about an England fan in Kosovo, call 020 station of where you’re staying. If you’re using AirBnB, please check with your host 7008 1500. to ensure one of your notifies the police of your stay. If you’re in Kosovo and your passport is lost or stolen, you must contact the British For more information, please check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Embassy on the contact details below. website before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kosovo/ entry-requirements British embassy in Kosovo: Lidhja e Pejes 177, Prishtina,10000, Kosovo British embassy email: britishembassy.@fco.gov.uk. British embassy phone: +383 (0) 38 254 700 The FCO advise that visitors carry their passport with them at all times for identification purposes. We recommend you take a photocopy of your passport and keep a copy separately in a safe place. It’s important to note that very few UK mobile networks work in Kosovo – according to our Kosovan colleagues the only network which does work is Vodaphone. Please check before you travel that you’re contactable whilst in Kosovo or purchase a Kosovan SIM card once in Prishtina.

3 Local customs Health

Whilst in Kosovo please take care of yourself and your belongings in the same way If you require medical treatment in Kosovo please consider that medical resources you would do in the UK. Report any thefts to police within 24hrs of the incident and facilities are basic – funding for treatment in Kosovo is very limited. Specialised occurring and get a crime reference number. medical equipment and treatment may not be available if you need to take medication, ensure you take enough with you to cover the duration of your stay. Watch out for pick pockets and bag thefts in tourist areas, bus stations and airports. Kosovan authorities treat all drink and drug-related offences very Ensure you take out comprehensive travel insurance before you leave for seriously. Custodial sentences can be expected for any England fans convicted of Kosovo. This will cover you in the event you need emergency medical treatment, such offences. Offences related to disorderly behaviour, hooliganism and drunken repatriation or have any personal belongings stolen. Always contact your travel behaviour will be treated more seriously than in the UK. insurance provider after seeking medical treatment in Kosovo. If you’re planning to spend time in different areas of Kosovo, please read the FCO’s website for important information about local travel and driving, particularly in northern Kosovo: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kosovo/safety-and- security There are no laws against same-sex relationships in Kosovo however, it is a conservative society. For more information about LGBTQ+ issues in Kosovo, please read the advice provided by the FCO: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ kosovo/local-laws-and-customs

4 About Kosovo

Kosovo is centrally located in the Balkans and neighbours Albania to the west, Kosovan Albanians constitute the largest ethnic group in Kosovo today; they Macedonia to the south and to the north. Its capital Prishtina (Pristina to generally like to be referred to as Albanians or Kosovars. Westerners) is not a big city and has a population of approximately 200,000. Famous Kosovans include Rita Ora who was born in Prishtina and moved to London Kosovo’s precise status as a country has been a source of considerable debate for in 1991; Dua Lipa who is of Kosovan descent but was born in London and moved over a decade but had been under the rule of The Roman Empire, The Bulgarian back to Kosovo in 2006 and Mother Teresa, an Albanian-Indian nun born in Kosovo. Empire, Albania and Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) at different points in its history. In terms of football, Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri, and former Man Utd player Adnan Januzaj are of Kosovan descent but were brought up Following The (1998-1999) between Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army, the governance of Kosovo was handed to the United Nations and in in Switzerland and Belgium. Xhaka’s father was even imprisoned in Yugoslavia for 2006 negotiations began to determine the final status of Kosovo. 15 years for campaigning for Kosovan independence. Kosovo first applied for FIFA membership in 2008 and were repeatedly rejected until 2014 after Xhaka, Shaqiri Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17 2008. Serbia still and members of the Kosovan team wrote to then FIFA president Sepp Blatter denies the formal existence of a Kosovan state and some Kosovo-Serbs living in the asking him to allow the team to play in friendlies. In 2016 Kosovo was accepted into north of the country are opposed to Kosovan law, however 111 of 193 member states UEFA and as member of FIFA. of the United Nations see Kosovo as an independent country. One of the many reasons why Kosovans are so excited about the visit of England (and September’s match at St Mary’s) is because Great Britain was one of the first countries to recognise their independence straight away – literally a day after Kosovo declared it.

5 Prishtina

You can fly to Prishtina from quite a few UK and European airports; it’s easy to reach by bus from Tirana in neighbouring Albania or Podgorica in Montenegro. Prishtina has a very laid-back atmosphere and the main pedestrian street – Bulevardi Nënë Tereza – is often full of people. We recommend visiting the NEWBORN sculpture which changes frequently and is designed to commemorate Kosovo’s independence. There’s also the National Library which is either a hideous or beautiful (depending on your tastes) brutalist building built during Yugoslavia’s reign. Bizarrely there is also a statue of Bill Clinton on Bill Clinton Bulevard. This was built to thank the former US President for his help during their struggle with Yugoslavia. In terms of food and drink there is Albi Mall which is a modern shopping centre containing restaurants, a bowling complex and plenty of shops. Cafes and bars can be found down Bulevardi Nënë Tereza (named after Mother Theresa). Kosovan cuisine is representative of food found in the Balkans – dishes mainly made of beans, peppers, potatoes, lamb and beef. We recommend trying a Byrek (or burek) which is a flaky pastry stuffed with meet, spinach and cheese or a Krempita which is a delicious pastry filled with custard and Chantilly cream. Stuffed peppers, kebabs and baklava also form part of the Kosovan diet. The currency in Kosovo is the Euro. Not all shops are equipped with credit/ debit card machines so we recommend taking enough cash with you. The quality of tap water is good in Kosovo and safe to drink.

6 Getting around Prishtina

Prishtina is covered by a comprehensive bus network but it is walkable due to the city’s small size. Bus tickets cost 40c and be bought on board. Taxi meters start at €1.50 and most trips around the city can be done for €3. Negotiate fares beforehand for unofficial taxis. Official taxi firms, include Golden Taxi, London Taxi and Urban Taxi.

Basic Albanian phrases

Hello – Pershendetje (per-shen-det-ye) Thank you – Faleminderit (fal-i-min-dir-it) Goodbye – Iamtumirë (yam-tu-mire) Please – Ju lutem (te-lut-em) Yes – Po No - Jo (yo) Excuse me – Më falni (meh-fal-knee) I’m sorry – Më vjen keq (me-vyen-kech) 1 beer please – 1 birrë ju lutem (bier-yu-lootem)

7 Getting to the stadium

Previously known as Prishtina City Stadium, the Fadil Vokrri Stadium is used for The stadium can be reached from the centre of Prishtina on foot. It’s an eight- most Kosovo National Football team matches and is the home of FC Prishtina. minute walk from Bulevardi Nёnё Tereza. If you walk straight up Fehmi Agani for 8 minutes, past the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, the stadium is on the The stadium was originally built in 1951 and hosted Kosovo’s first friendly match left-hand side. since the Kosovan War in 2002. The match was against Albania who finished with a 0-1 win. In September 2007 the stadium was filled with 25,000 people for a 50 Cent concert. This was the highest recorded attendance at Fadil Vokrri as it can only hold 13,000 people for football matches. Over 100,000 Kosovans registered an interest in attending the match against England so we expect an electric atmosphere at the Fadil Vokrri on November 17.

If you’re going straight to the stadium from Prishtina International Airport, it is a 35-minute drive by taxi or you can get the 1A bus which runs from the airport every hour.

8 Stadium access Stadium regulations

There is no public parking at Fadil Vokrri, however if you require disabled access Please note the following stadium regulations: parking, please contact [email protected] before the match with your request and we will enquire for you. • Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the stadium. Once at the stadium, there will be a ticket check at the turnstiles which then leads • Pyrotechnic devices including flares and fireworks are not permitted. to the search areas. All supporters will undergo a body and bag search – if you do • Fans without valid tickets will not be allowed to enter the stadium. need to bring a bag with you, please ensure its no larger than an A4 piece of paper and do not bring any bottles (including bottles of perfume or cosmetics) as these • Supporters must be able to show a valid ticket and photo ID when requested to will be thrown away. do so by stewards, security staff or police. Much of the stadium is open-air so we recommend checking the weather forecast • The Fadil Vokrri Stadium has the right to refuse entry to anyone who is believed before making your way to the stadium and taking waterproof coats/ponchos with to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and has the right to remove them you if it’s due to rain. at any time. No alcohol is to be consumed at the stadium. • Bottles, glasses, cans, sticks and any other blunt or pointed weapons are not permitted into the stadium. We do not anticipate a hold-back for England fans after the game, but please listen to stadium announcements. Any urgent updates will be broadcast via the England • Flags or banners displaying discriminative or provocative text or images will Supporters Travel Club Facebook group. not be permitted into the stadium . • Small bags (no bigger than an A4 piece of paper) are allowed in the stadium but will be subject to security checks.

The full UEFA Stadium and security regulations can be found here.

9 TICKET COLLECTION POINT

NO TICKETS WILL BE POSTED TO MEMBERS IN ADVANCE OF THIS FIXTURE – REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. Please bring either your current 2018-2020 Travel Club membership card or any up-to-date photo ID to collect your ticket. If you’re part of a group, each member must collect their ticket in person. Please be aware that all members of the group do not have to collect at the same time but it will not be possible for another member (or non-member) to collect your ticket on your behalf. To help save time when collecting tickets, we advise members to know the name of the lead booker in their order. A copy of your order number will be emailed to you before the match in the event of any issues. Travel Club members will be able to collect their tickets at the following location during the stated opening hours. Address To encourage members to arrive at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in plenty of time and Hotel Sirius Prishtina, avoid potentially missing the start of the match, the ticket collection point will be Agim Ramadani closing at 5pm on matchday. Prishtina, Kosovo (Entrance by the side of the hotel, to the left as you look at it) Due to the demand for tickets from Kosovan locals we expect the stadium and surrounding area to be very busy in the build-up to kick-off and would advise all Opening times: supporters to arrive in plenty of time. Saturday 16 November: 4pm – 6pm If you need to get in touch with the England Supporters Club on matchday and your Sunday 17 November: 12pm – 5pm query is related to the Kosovo fixture please call or text +44 (0) 7970 146 250. This number is also printed on your membership card. There will not be a ticket collection office at the stadium. As Hotel Sirius is a 15 minute walk to the stadium and easily accessible by public transport, all tickets must be collected from Hotel Sirius before 5pm on Sunday 17 November.

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