FANS SAY NYET TO THE CUP
ENGLAND fans have applied for just 26,670 of the four million match tickets requested for the World Cup.
Three Lions’ supporters have shunned the tournament in Russia amid fears of hooliganism, threats of terrorism and travel experts warning it could cost them up to £35,000 to see England lift the trophy.
Fans of hosts Russia account for 55% of match ticket applications so far.
England come only 15th in the league table of teams’ supporters applying for seats.
They are even behind followers of the Netherlands and USA, neither of which have even qualified for the summer tournament.
Yet despite the lack of enthusiam from Three Lions’ supporters, chiefs of organisers Fifa are delighted with the demand for seats.
So far 4,021,211 tickets have been requested but only 2.5m are available for all 64 matches.
A ballot will be held to determine who gets seats.
Fans will be informed of the outcome of their applications by mid-March.
Some last-minute tickets will go on sale in April.
Fifa is determined to clamp down on touting.
Fans who buy from secondary-selling websites or touts will not be allowed into stadiums.
Tickets must match identity documents such as passports for entry to games.
Fifa will set up its own re-sale site for fans who cannot attend matches.
Head of ticketing Falk Eller said: “Fans who purchase tickets from other sources put themselves at significant risk of missing out on the World Cup.
“And of course we would not want that to happen.’’
England have been drawn with Belgium, Panama and Tunisia.