Final Ticketing Farce

[guti]

After talking to other Aussie fans at Doha Airport, I found out there was a massive ticketing farce.

All those free locals that I saw getting let in early (before 4pm) were actually in seats meant to be occupied by paid ticket-holders. The event staff refused to allow the legit ticket-holders (when they arrived) entry into the stadium as a result when they rocked up to the gate. Many paying Aussie customers as a result did not see the game.

Shocking (and big) story if confirmed true. Massive egg on the face of the Qatari FA and AFC.

[Modiano Triestine]

After talking to other Aussie fans at Doha Airport, I found out there was a massive ticketing farce.

All those free locals that I saw getting let in early (before 4pm) were actually in seats meant to be occupied by paid ticket-holders. The event staff refused to allow the legit ticket-holders (when they arrived) entry into the stadium as a result when they rocked up to the gate. Many paying Aussie customers as a result did not see the game.

Shocking (and big) story if confirmed true. Massive egg on the face of the Qatari FA and AFC.

5AA (Cornsey) he'll love this...Anything to step down on the game.

[the_gun]

yep i heard about this on theworldgame website. very poor for the qatari fa.

[Culprit878]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadi ... Id=5798760

Thousands of ticket-holders at the Asian Cup were denied entry into the final Saturday after police shut the gates minutes before the match began between Australia and Japan.

Witnesses said irate fans — some holding their tickets in the air and shouting — were forced to watch the match on a television behind a a fence that encircled the 40,000-seat Khalifa Stadium. Some fans complained that baton-wielding police roughly pushed the crowd and ordered them to leave because the stadium was sold out, although there were empty seats inside. Fights reportedly broke out as fans tried to push their way through the gates.

"We came from another country to watch our team but no one is talking to us," said Hedo Nawashimi, a 42-year-old Japanese national who had flown over from Dubai and had tickets. "This is very bad. It is not right to keep us outside. Is that the way to organize Asian Cup? Is that a way to organize a final match?"

There were conflicting reports that the gates were opened later in the match. But dozens of ticket holders interviewed in the 70th minute of the match were still standing outside a security fence. Police were refusing them entry on what they said were orders from their superiors.

When a reporter approached, the crowd of European, South Asian and Gulf Arab fans all held up their tickets, including one woman who had eight. They talked of crowds that reached 5,000 all barred from entering and then spending the next several hours going from gate to gate in an unsuccessful bid to gain entry. At one point, several hundred had tried to enter via the tournament's media centre but were turned back.

"My father's inside and I can't get to him," said A.J. Smith, a 15-year English fan living in Doha. "There are empty seats everywhere. You can just look at the television for proof. It's not fair."

Sameh Abu Assi, a 33-year-old Saudi national standing nearby, said he had driven 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) from Saudi Arabia to attend the match and spent more than $2,000 on hotels and tickets.

"We should be allowed to enter," Abu Assi said. "How do they expect to organize the 2022 World Cup? They can't even organize this."

Ali al-Hamdani, a spokesman for the Asian Football Confederation, said the AFC and the local organizing committee would investigate the matter.

Many saw Qatar's organizing of Asia's premier football tournament as a dry run for the 2022 World Cup, which it won the hosting rights for in December.

The tournament had gone without incident until the ticket mix-up which is likely to raise questions about the government's security plans for large events and its crowd control measures.

"I came here for a vacation," said Abdullah al-Qahtani a translator for the U.S. Army in Saudi Arabia, who ripped up his tickets in front of confused police officers. "I'm really sad. It's really a shame. I will leave now."

[Knight7]

I note the resident 'troll' hasn't posted on this one yet

Bet he is hoping some Grandmother from Scunthorpe has started a thread denying this and will start a counter thread using this as his counter argument

So apart from poor crowds (despite all the free tickets) and this ticketing farce how was the rest of your stay in Qatar

I hear it's just the same as Bahrain

[guti]

I went to three games in Qatar (third group game, semi final, final) and spent three days there, but on hours was probably closer to 48

I was lucky. I arrived in Doha at 6am on the morning of the final. We went to the Qatar Motorshow in the morning, then the Villagio shopping centre at lunchtime. After that, seriously nothing else to do in Doha so we went to the stadium at 3pm (three hours before kickoff). If we'd shown up later...

[guti]

Expats forum - http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/message ... cID=135786

Al Jazeera - http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/foot ... 97529.html

Reuters (lol at only 700) - http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/ ... UV20110130

Passing time in Sydney Airport.

[guti]

Gulf Times - http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/a ... rent_id=16

[Gary Gerald]

What a shambles.

It is lucky that hardly anyone turned up for the group and other finals games I guess..

But at least Bin Hamman and old mate Blatter looked comfy in thier gold and velvet seats..

[guti]

Interesting that no-one has reported the actual 'people were told to show up before 4pm to get free tickets' angle.

[Russia2O18]

i've heard reports from people who were at the ground that Australians that were refused entry were either rude or intoxicated
funny how you dont see this being reported by mainstream Aussie media

[guti]

I would assume most people were rude seeing as they had paid thousands of dollars to be there and had legitimate tickets and were turned away without being given any legitimate reason!

[Knight7]

i've heard reports from people who were at the ground that Australians that were refused entry were either rude or intoxicated
funny how you dont see this being reported by mainstream Aussie media

were some of your friends from Qatar there
Oh that's right you've never been
Were they from Bahrain
I've heard that's like Qatar

Be honest did you read the thread from the Grandmother from Scunthorpe like I suggested you might

It's taken you about 24 hours to come up with something and "I have heard reports from people at the ground" is the best you have got

Oh troll you really have let yourself down this time

[Russia2O18]

who the hell is Grandmother from Scunthorpe?
sorry but i have no understanding of your regional English in jokes

looks like mr Knight7 has slipped into his usual jingoistic denial mode.

[Knight7]

who the hell is Grandmother from Scunthorpe?
sorry but i have no understanding of your regional English in jokes

looks like mr Knight7 has slipped into his usual jingoistic denial mode.

Sorry 'old fella' I will explain it to you, as when challenged your intelligence seems to fail you

You 'troll' through the internet looking for any quote, youtube video or thread that has a negative slant against Australia - you then use this as a foundation for your argument.

As you hadn't posted any 'rebuttal' on the ticketing farce - I figured you were hunting high and low for something, anything that would help disprove the story -be that a 'grandmothers post in Scunthorpe' or a 'fisherman from Texas' - (bit like that poor Iraqi's youtube video)

However you obvioulsy found nothing as you resorted to the old 'reports from people you knew' story

[Russia2O18]

who the hell is Grandmother from Scunthorpe?
sorry but i have no understanding of your regional English in jokes

looks like mr Knight7 has slipped into his usual jingoistic denial mode.

Sorry 'old fella' I will explain it to you, as when challenged your intelligence seems to fail you

You 'troll' through the internet looking for any quote, youtube video or thread that has a negative slant against Australia - you then use this as a foundation for your argument.

As you hadn't posted any 'rebuttal' on the ticketing farce - I figured you were hunting high and low for something, anything that would help disprove the story -be that a 'grandmothers post in Scunthorpe' or a 'fisherman from Texas' - (bit like that poor Iraqi's youtube video)

However you obvioulsy found nothing as you resorted to the old 'reports from people you knew' story

i have better things to do with my life thanks champ than hunt for reports that suit any agenda. unlike you i actually have a life.
i was informed today by contacts i have on another forum of this situation

[Knight7]

who the hell is Grandmother from Scunthorpe?
sorry but i have no understanding of your regional English in jokes

looks like mr Knight7 has slipped into his usual jingoistic denial mode.

Sorry 'old fella' I will explain it to you, as when challenged your intelligence seems to fail you

You 'troll' through the internet looking for any quote, youtube video or thread that has a negative slant against Australia - you then use this as a foundation for your argument.

As you hadn't posted any 'rebuttal' on the ticketing farce - I figured you were hunting high and low for something, anything that would help disprove the story -be that a 'grandmothers post in Scunthorpe' or a 'fisherman from Texas' - (bit like that poor Iraqi's youtube video)

However you obvioulsy found nothing as you resorted to the old 'reports from people you knew' story

i have better things to do with my life thanks champ than hunt for reports that suit any agenda. unlike you i actually have a life.
i was informed today by contacts i have on another forum of this situation

Arguably the most ironic thing I have ever read on Football news

You have really struggled with this

[Knight7]

Although being unemployed I probably have more time on my hands than you

[Russia2O18]

Although being unemployed I probably have more time on my hands than you

perhaps then you should devote your time to finding work

[Knight7]

Although being unemployed I probably have more time on my hands than you

perhaps then you should devote your time to finding work

Perhaps I could be your carer?

[Russia2O18]

Although being unemployed I probably have more time on my hands than you

perhaps then you should devote your time to finding work

Perhaps I could be your carer?

[Gary Gerald]

i've heard reports from people who were at the ground that Australians that were refused entry were either rude or intoxicated
funny how you dont see this being reported by mainstream Aussie media

I would be pretty annoyed if I had shelled out $$$$$ and was missing out..

Your so full of crap it hurts!

[Knight7]

i've heard reports from people who were at the ground that Australians that were refused entry were either rude or intoxicated
funny how you dont see this being reported by mainstream Aussie media

I would be pretty annoyed if I had shelled out $$$$$ and was missing out..

Your so full of crap it hurts!

It's ok, he has a new carer now

'think happy thoughts John, think happy thoughts"

Hopefully we will soon see a change in his attitude