Only two percent of fans tickets checked, says FIFA

BERLIN, June 13: Only 500 to 1,000 fans in crowds of up to 72,000 are likely to have their tickets checked against their personal identity documents at World Cup matches, organisers said today.

Soccer's ruling body FIFA and the German organising committee had said no supporters would be admitted to stadiums unless the name on their ticket matched that of their passport or ID cards.

But the authorities now seem to be taking a more pragmatic approach, trying to weed out any forged or stolen tickets whose electronic details have been frozen.

It also appears that as long as a fan has a reasonable explanation why their ID might not match that of the name on the ticket, or they do not look like a hooligan, they will be allowed in.

Wolfgang Niersbach, joint vice-president of the German organising committee responsible for ticketing, said 99 percent of seats had been sold for every match and the electronic access controls were working perfectly.

''About 500 to 1,000 fans will have their tickets checked at every match and so far there have been no problems,'' he told reporters.

According to Niersbach's figures, about two percent of fans tickets were being checked closely, but warned supporters against buying tickets from touts as they could be forged or stolen and would not gain the holder access.

''What is critical is the security in the stadium,'' he added.

''As long as a fan has a valid, paid ticket, there is unlikely to be a problem.

''Where a name does not match a passport, for example, then that person must go through a clearing point, but if they have a letter from the person named on the ticket, or a valid passport, then there will be no problem.'' In the main, every stadium has been full for every match played but Niersbach said no one could legislate for every eventuality.

''If, for example, a coach breaks down on the motorway and 40 or 50 fans cannot get to the match and there is an empty block of seats, you cannot account for that,'' he said.

''If they have the tickets and can't get to the match what can you do?''.

Niersbach said the demand for tickets for every match was huge.

''Some 3,300 tickets became available for the match between Ukraine and Tunisia (on June 23) again and were put up for sale, and went within three hours,'' he said.

''That is astonishing to a certain extent. It does not matter what match it is, people just want to be there and be part of this incredible experience.

''Unlike past World Cup finals, ticketing is a true success story here,'' added Niersbach.

REUTERS

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