₦airaland Forum

Fifa has defended its attendance figures at South Korea’s opening-day win against the Czech Republic at the World Cup by insisting that some fans “stood in concourses rather than in their assigned seat.”

There were thousands of empty seats, in just the second match of the tournament, to further raise questions surrounding Fifa’s ticket prices for the world spectacle. South Korea defeated Czech Republic 2-1, in a gripping Group A contest in Guadalajara.

But amid controversy surrounding the ticket prices at the World Cup, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino defending the dynamic pricing policy at his press conference on the eve of the tournament, thousands of empty red seats could be seen throughout the contest at the Estadio Akron.

On Friday, a Fifa spokesperson told The Independent in response: “Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match. FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data.

“Please note that, during last night’s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.”

Fifa opted to cut prices for some of its 104 matches in recent weeks, but a reported 180,000 tickets remained listed across Fifa’s official resale portals ahead of the tournament.

The pricing policy has seen the cheapest standard ticket to the final reach a reported $5,785, with some tickets reaching five figures

The issue has clouded the build-up to the tournament, with Fifa even claiming to have received over 500 million booking requests.

Infantino’s defence surrounding the ticket prices centred on his belief that the Fifa World Cup was a bigger event than the NBA Finals, which has seen exorbitant prices for the Knicks v Spurs series.

Politicians in New York and New Jersey have launched a formal investigation after allegations fans were left confused by Fifa over the inflated prices of tickets.

SixSeven:
U go explain taya.

FIFA's greed will do them in.

They wanted to milk the sports by going to America, giving us half time spoilers and all those things that make everything commercial. What a rip off.

That's why they used red seats so that you won't be able to see well but they are unlucky, any team that wears green, white or any color that contrasts red will reveal the most important thing - no one is buying those ridiculously priced tickets.

Seeplusplus:
E no even do like say anything de happen sef


Very boring tournament

Omoawoke:
When I saw advertisement in the middle of the game, I understood why Americans call football soccer

Lmao

Ironfaceman:
If you are a Nigerian fan and you paid
$5785 for ticket,
$10000 for visa bond,
$1750 for 2 way ticket to Yankee,
$1000 for B&B
$500 For uber
$1000 For BTA
And you see an empty stadium. How will you feel.

Ironfaceman:
If you are a Nigerian fan and you paid
$5785 for ticket,
$10000 for visa bond,
$1750 for 2 way ticket to Yankee,
$1000 for B&B
$500 For uber
$1000 For BTA
And you see an empty stadium. How will you feel.

Omoawoke:
When I saw advertisement in the middle of the game, I understood why Americans call football soccer

Lmao

Ironfaceman:
If you are a Nigerian fan and you paid
$5785 for ticket,
$10000 for visa bond,
$1750 for 2 way ticket to Yankee,
$1000 for B&B
$500 For uber
$1000 For BTA
And you see an empty stadium. How will you feel.