‘Red War’ tickets sell out within an hour
TICKETS FOR THE high-profile Bangkok friendly between Liverpool
and Manchester United on July 12 went on sale on Saturday
(Apr 2) and virtually all sold out within an hour.
Both clubs have a strong
following in Thailand, with Liverpool shirts and logos es
pecially visible – the Anfield outfit’s official Thai language
Facebook page has more than
38 million followers.
But with tickets ranging
from B5,000 to B25,000, many ordinary Thai fans have complained of being priced out of seeing their heroes play in the flesh.
The clash between Unit
ed and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, currently nipping at
the heels of Manchester City
at the top of the Premier League, at the Rajamangala
National Stadium has been dubbed the “Red War” by Thai media and fans.
Senior officials from the two clubs visited Bangkok last month to check the facilities
at the 51,000-seat ground.
Organisers hope to recreate an English matchday atmosphere on Thai soil, though with likely tempera
tures in the low 30°C and humidity around 70%, the chilly damp of northwest England will feel a long way away.
“It will be the same play
ers as you see now with a few additions if transfer deals happen,” said legendary United striker Andrew Cole at the press conference last Thursday (Mar 31), pre
dicting the two sides’ historic
rivalry would continue in Bangkok. “I’m not sure it will be played like a preseason friendly,” he added.
Former Liverpool defender Phil Babb said he expected Klopp to bring a full-strength squad.