Manchester United to pay €120 Russian visa fees for fans to attend Europa League match

United face off against Rostov in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Europa League on March 9

Edited By: Rachit.Kanaujia

Published: March 1, 2017, 6:12 PM IST

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Manchester United to refund the visa fees of fans

All of the Manchester United fans travelling to Russia will have to acquire a visa and the club will pay the €120 it will cost to get one when they play in the Europa League against Rostov.

United face the Russian side in the last-16 of the competition with the first-leg taking place at the Rostov Arena on March 9 and the fans wanting to travel were facing the prospect of having to pay £118.20 on top of the flights, match tickets and accommodation in order to secure a Russian visa.

However, according to reports, Manchester United have agreed to cover the costs of the visas for every fan who wants to make the trek. Fans can then send a receipt for their visa and the club will contact them to arrange a refund.The Red Devils are expected to take around 500 supporters to Rostov. Also Read: Newcastle United edge closer to Premier League promotion after late 2-1 comeback against Brighton

Supporters will need to arrange their own documentation, as there’s now a visa application centre in Manchester. Rostov, located east of Ukraine, is almost 2,000 miles away from Manchester and fans will face substantial costs to follow their team.

It’s a great gesture by the club considering that United’s Manager Jose Mourinho did little to get fans jazzed about the match directly after the draw.

“It is a bad draw in every aspect,” the 54-year-old Portuguese national said (via the Manchester Evening News). “It is far and it is difficult, and comes in a bad period for us.”

Mourinho was referring to his team’s jam-packed schedule in March which kicks off on Saturday with a Premier League bout against Bournemouth. Five days after that, the team will travel 2,000 miles to Rostov before returning three days later to face Southampton in Premier League action. Also Read: Former FIFA executive Jerome Valcke challenges 10-year ban 

The following day Manchester United goes up against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinal. Three days after that, Rostov will come to England. For those counting, that’s five matches in 15 days, which in soccer, is about as gruelling as it gets.