The draw for the Euro 2016 finals takes place today and with three home nation teams taking part in the competition next summer, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is launching ‘Be on the Ball’, a campaign providing advice and information to British football fans.
With hundreds of thousands of supporters expected to travel to France to cheer on their team and enjoy the atmosphere, the FCO is encouraging all fans to plan ahead to enjoy a safe and stress-free tournament.
To help travelling fans ‘Be on the Ball’, the FCO has compiled 11 top tips:
1. Check out the latest travel advice and information on the different regions, laws and customs
2. Book accommodation before you arrive. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to travel and the demand for beds will be high
3. Get your tickets from a credible source. Selling tickets outside the stadiums is illegal in France
4. Ensure that you have an EHIC, check that it hasn’t expired and understand what it covers
5.Take out comprehensive travel insurance, and ensure it covers you for all the activities you plan to do
6.Get to know the laws of the road. France has different rules to the UK so do your research before hitting the road
7. Look after your passport while travelling; keep it in a safe place and make two copies of it, taking one with you
8. Be responsible. Fans deemed to have drunk too much alcohol may not be allowed into the stadiums
9.There are likely to be long queues to access public transport, stadiums and Fanzones so arrive early. Follow advice and instructions from the local authorities
10. For any emergency dial 112. For consular assistance, for example if you lose your passport, dial +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00
11.Stay updated! Sign up to travel advice alerts at GOV.UK/foreign-travel-advice/france and Follow @FCOtravel on Twitter, and find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FCOtravel
