Hooligans no longer?

Host of the UEFA Champions League Final, Istanbul may also be viewed as a big winner after the May 25 match. Turkey's footballing capital had been preparing for the final for months, with rooms in local hotels having been snapped up long in advance of the big day. And when the avalanche of fans came - 60,000 of whom descended upon the city for the 25 May showpiece - Istanbul showed that it was ready for them. With the local organisers having allocated Taksim Square for Liverpool supporters and Sultanahmet Square for AC Milan fans, local shops and restaurants reported bumper takings with no major security problems or disturbances ruining an excellent atmosphere around the match.