Match tickets to count as official invitations: embassy

Moscow will change its colours to red and blue on May 21, when more than 40,000 English fans head to the Russian capital to see Chelsea and Manchester United in the Champions League final. The Russian Embassy in London will process up to 6,000 visas a day to ensure every English football fan makes it on time.

The clubs contesting the final, Chelsea and Manchester United, have each received 21,000 tickets, meaning that at least 42,000 visa applications need to be processed in record time.

But early fears that the visa system will make it hard for supporters to make the game appear to have been eased by talks in Moscow. A match ticket now counts as an official invitation.

Fans in Moscow can't wait to host their heroes and their fellow supporters. But even if all these supporters give up a sofa to a fellow fan, tens of thousands will still need somewhere to stay.

Moscow's hoteliers are anticipating a very busy time indeed.

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