Soccer’s world governing body FIFA announced that it is to allocate more tickets to the supporters of individual countries in World Cup first-round games. The amount will increase from the current eight per cent of total stadium capacity to 12 per cent.
“We have always been criticized for too many tickets going to the fat cats,” said FIFA official David Will. “But we are confident that at least 80% in 2010 will go to the general public.” The new figure will be implemented only for the first round of the World Cup in South Africa, with the total returning to about eight per cent for matches in the knockout phase.
Tickets for South Africa will go on sale in February 2009, staggered in five stages. Fans will only be able to pick up tickets in the host nation, in a bid to stop them being sold on the black market. FIFA will also no longer give tickets to the individual football associations of participating countries for sale and distribution (bad news for Jack Warner and his family). UK-based firm MATCH, which runs FIFA’s hospitality and accommodation programs, will take over the sale and distribution of tickets.