Fifa changes ticket system

JOHANNESBURG – Fifa has introduced a new ticketing system for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which it said yesterday would greatly increase the number of tickets available for genuine football supporters.

David Will, chairman of the ticketing sub-committee for the World Cup, told Reuters the percentage of tickets for fans from countries qualifying for the finals would rise by 50 percent. He also said a new collection system would go a long way to keeping tickets off the black market.Fifa will also no longer hand over the ticket allocation to the participating associations to sell or distribute but instead will do it through MATCH, an organisation in Manchester, England which runs Fifa’s hospitality and accommodation programmes.Will said a criteria had been established to ensure each country’s allocation went to fans through supporters clubs.Nampa-ReutersHe also said a new collection system would go a long way to keeping tickets off the black market.Fifa will also no longer hand over the ticket allocation to the participating associations to sell or distribute but instead will do it through MATCH, an organisation in Manchester, England which runs Fifa’s hospitality and accommodation programmes.Will said a criteria had been established to ensure each country’s allocation went to fans through supporters clubs.Nampa-Reuters