Fifa working on solution for World Cup tickets issue
RESPONDING to criticism after some fans buying tickets for the Women’s World Cup were not given seats together, Fifa said it was working toward a solution with the local organizing committee in France.
Tickets were made available for printing on Monday and ticket holders learned their seats were sometimes split up in separate rows and different sections—even couples and families with children were separated. The backlash on social media was swift.
On Tuesday, Fifa posted a statement to its web site explaining that high demand for some matches, including the semifinal and final in
Lyon, meant only single seats were available.
Fifa also said that it estimates only a small number of fans are affected.
“Fifa and the Local Organizing
Committee are continuing to work toward finding the best solution for all fans attending the Fifa Women’s World Cup and, in particular, are doing everything they can to ensure that families will always be seated together at each and every match,” the statement said, referencing a phone number and e-mail for inquiries.
The tournament starts June 7 and runs through July 7. The situation could cause problems in the stadiums before games, when fans may try to swap seats to sit next to friends or family members.
Fifa’s web site included a disclaimer that the local organizing committee has assigned the French firm AP2S to handle online ticket sales. AP2S did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
AP