EURO 2016: Fan guides, emergency contacts and news updates

Euro 2016 is the closest major tournament to Britain since the 2006 World Cup in Germany – that means tens of thousands of travelling fans and the FSF is working hard to offer each and every one the best support.

With that in mind it makes sense to create one page where we can link to a whole host of useful information for fans. We’ll also add relevant news updates as they come in – although if you’re on Facebook or Twitter it’s worth following the FSF feeds as it’s often easier to update those with the latest information when we’re on-the-move.

Latest news updates:

• 06/07/2016 – The Wales Fans’ Embassy team will be at Place de Bellecourin, Open Lyon Tourist office , next to fan zone East until 6pm.
• 05/07/2016 – Paul Corkrey from FSF Cymru has some general advice for Wales fans travelling to Lyon.
• 04/07/16 – Advice from Paul Corkrey from the Wales Fans’ Embassy on Lyon: 
• 04/07/16 – “Concerns raised over treatment of jailed England fan” – Alex Booth, 20, caught up in Marseille trouble denied effective legal defence say Fans’ Embassy.
• 27/06/16 – Free Lions Issue 148, our guide to Nice is out now. The England fans’ embassy team will be based at two separate locations in Nice today – the Quai des Etats-Unis next to the fanzone and Gare De Nice Ville.
• 27/06/16 – Clarification for England fans collecting tickets in Nice: 

Ticket collection is at the Acropolis Expositions, not Acropolis Congrès which you will pass if walking from fanzone pic.twitter.com/2B0xaUY9vL

— Free Lions (@FSF_FreeLions) June 26, 2016

• 20/06/16 – Update for Wales fans from FSF Cymru: 

Flags bigger than 1.5 m x 2 m need to be put up by 2 pm at Toulouse stadium, smaller flags are ok on general entry providing non offensive

— Fan Embassy Wales (@FSFwalesfanemb) June 20, 2016

• 20/06/16 – Our England fans’ embassy team are out at Gare de Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux today – if you need any advice head over there. They’ll have hard copies of Free Lions 147, our handy guide to St Etienne, to give out and you can download it here.
• 15/06/16 – The Free Lions Fans’ Embassy will be based at Place du Théâtre in Lille today and between Gare De Lens and Place Jean Jaurés in Lens tomorrow.
• 15/06/16 – Free Lions 146, our excellent guide to Lens is available to download now.
• 14/06/16 – The FSF and FSF Cymru have issued a joint statement on policing ahead of the England-Wales game on Thursday.
• 14/6/16 – The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Lille and Lens ahead of the England-Wales fixture: 
  

  Fans travelling to the Lens/Lille area for the England versus Wales match on 16 June should be aware that the match between Russia and Slovakia will take place in Lille on 15 June and large numbers of fans are expected to be in the city. Fans are advised to be cautious and those without tickets for the match should avoid Lille and Lens during this period.
  Prefets (the local French government office) across France have been authorised to take all necessary measures in order to prohibit the sale, consumption and transport of alcoholic drinks on match days, pre-match days and whenever the local fan zones are open.  Please consult local information sources.

• 12/6/16 – We have issued a statement regarding attacks on English fans in Marseille and Stade Velodrome. Full statement here.
• 11/6/16 – Message from our Free Lions Fans Embassy team for England fans in Marseille ahead of kick off: 
  

  The Marseille police have asked us to pass on their offer of an escorted walk to the stadium for tonight’s match. The intention behind this is to offer protection to England fans, after some of us have been subject to attack by other groups in the last couple of days.
  England fans who want to join this escorted walk – there is absolutely no obligation to do so, participation is entirely voluntary – should assemble at the top of the Old Port, at the bottom of the street called La Canebière, at 18.00.
  England fans traveling to the ground by Metro, particularly those with tickets for the official England sector, are being advised to use the last station on Metro line 2 (the red line), Ste Marguerite Dromel.
  Security checks on the way into the stadium will be thorough and time-consuming, so please arrive at the stadium as early as possible if you want to be sure of seeing the kick-off. Gates will open at 18.00.

• 9/6/16 – For England vs Russia in Marseille, the Free Lions Fans’ Embassy Team will be based at the Cube info point, Old Port on Friday and Saturday.
• 7/6/16 – The Foreign Office says: “There is a high threat from terrorism … During Euro 2016, stadiums, fan zones, venues broadcasting the tournament and transport hubs and links represent potential targets for terrorist attacks … be vigilant at all times, especially in areas hosting Euro 2016 events, and follow the advice of local French authorities.” More here.
• 6/6/16 – The Independent’s travel expert Simon Calder offers advice for tourists in relation to French pilots’ strike.

Useful links/downloads:

• Download the Free Lions England Fans’ Guide to France here (PDF)
• Download the Wales Fans’ Guide to France here (PDF)
• FSF Free Lions website and FSF Wales
• Be On The Ball at Euro 2016 (Foreign Office)

Facebook/Twitter:

• Follow the Free Lions team @fsf_freelions
• Follow FSF Cymru @fsfwalesfanemb 
• Follow the FSF @The_FSF
• Like the FSF and Free Lions on Facebook

Emergency contacts:

• Free Lions 24hr helpline (England) +44 (0)7956 121314
• FSF Cymru 24hr helpline (Wales)  +44 (0)7905 861848 
• British embassy: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00