Fifa face fan backlash over seating at women’s World Cup

PARIS: World football governing body Fifa are facing a backlash on social media from fans who bought multiple tickets for next month’s women’s World Cup in France only to discover that their seats were not together.

Supporters with tickets for the June 7-July 7 showpiece were allowed to download and print them on Monday and a number of parents have since complained that seats have been allocated in such a way that they cannot sit with their children.

The tournament organisers initially released a statement saying they could not change seat allocations except for parents with children under the age of 18 who were not seated together.

In a subsequent statement organisers said less than one per cent of fans with tickets for the semi-finals and final were facing seat-allocation issues.

“The previous tweets regarding Fifa Women’s World Cup tickets allocation were published without a full understanding of the situation and we apologise for that,” organisers said in a statement.

“The issues were faced by less than one per cent of fans requesting tickets for the semi-finals and the final. Fifa and the local organising committee are confident the problems will be solved and fans will be able to enjoy the matches as they envisaged.”

The assurances did not calm supporters on social media, who suggested the problem was far more widespread and demanded organisers resolve the issue.

Fifa released a statement later on Tuesday saying they were still working on a solution.

The women’s World Cup semifinals and final will be held in Lyon.