Football Away Matches – Travel Advice for Fans

Football fans could be exposing themselves to serious penalties if things go pear-shaped on their travels to away matches in other countries. 

Even on a short overnight hop to Europe, the first line of defence should be a travel insurance policy tucked safely into your hand luggage.

Fans may be pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive travel insurance can be for a single trip to Europe.  It amounts to no more than the price a couple of pints of beer (based on UK prices of between £2-3 per pint).  If you plan to travel abroad more than once in a season, then save even more money by opting for the annual multi-trip policy.

At the time of writing, our most basic Single Trip travel insurance for Europe, for a person aged between 18-60, costs less than £4 (that’s less than the cost of 2 pints of beer!)  Even this most basic cover provides £10m in medical expenses, £1m personal liability, and £15,000 legal expenses.   Pay a couple of pounds more and you get a whole lot more, including cover for airline failure, cancellation and curtailment, missed departure, and personal accident. 

Stay on the ball and plan your trip tactically.  Arm yourself with knowledge by reading up on the local laws and customs of your destination country before you go.  A good place to start is with a visit to our Travel Guide, and then follow the link on the page for Foreign Office (FCO) Country Advice.  The excellent and updated FCO advice is provided free to travelling Brits. 

Don’t get caught out or act surprised while in another country if it seems they have moved the goalposts on you. Local laws and customs vary between countries and are often stricter than at home.  It can be all too easy to innocently violate a law and end up with a yellow card – or much worse!

Apply for your (free) European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and take it with you when travelling to another EU member country.  However, the EHIC should never be used as a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.  If you should come a cropper while abroad, the EHIC should cover your emergency treatment in a state-run facility (but not if you are taken unconscious to the closest private hospital!)  The EHIC does not cover your ongoing care or non-urgent treatment.  It also does not cover typical travel problems such as lost luggage and possessions, airline failure, legal liability, emergency repatriation, etc.

In the case of serious illness or injury, emergency medical repatriation may be required with an air ambulance, two or more airline seats, and a medical escort.  This would run into many thousands of pounds – and you (or your family) would be solely responsible for payment!  Many people mistakenly believe that the British consulate picks up expenses of this type, but that is not the case – nor does the EHIC cover the expenses.  Your travel insurance, however, should step in here and cover the cost – and may even pay to fly your close relatives out to your bedside (check your individual policy for terms and conditions). 

Important reminder:  If a claim is found to be intoxication-related (alcohol and/or drugs) the travel insurance claims handlers (of any company) are likely to kick you into touch!  As with any type of insurance, travel insurance is not a license to act irresponsibly, or put yourself in harm’s way, and then expect someone else to pick up the pieces – and the bill!

The FCO website includes a section for football fans travelling abroad to support their clubs, including UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches.  Their advice  includes passports and visa requirements, local laws and customs, restrictions at the stadium, directions to the stadium, accessing money, alcohol and drug use, tips to avoid street crime, and the importance of travel insurance. They also provide contact information for the nearest consulate or embassy in case of lost or stolen passports or other emergencies.  Click here.

Travel insurance could save you thousands of pounds.  If you don’t believe it, why not get a quote and see what you can get for your money.  Being caught without insurance is just about the equivalent of scoring an own goal!  Click here for a no-obligation quote.

At the end of the day, most trips are going to go smoothly and be trouble-free – and we hope that is the case.  However, if your luck should run out you could find yourself in injury time and needing medical care.  Wouldn’t it would be better, for the sake of a few pounds, to have the peace of mind of travel insurance and a lifeline to call for help. 

A  trip abroad to support your club should be an enjoyable and memorable experience.  So, why not make it a win-win situation with a safe and penalty-free trip for yourself and (fingers crossed) a penalty-free victory for your team! 

Flickr cc Image:  NathanF