Police ban match day ticket sales
POLICE have instructed soccer authorities not to sell tickets for Sunday's Viceroy Cup final on the day of the game following chaotic scenes at the new Hongkong Stadium on Tuesday night.
The police authorities informed the Hongkong Football Association yesterday that all 21,000 tickets for the final between South China and all-conquering Eastern would have to be pre-sold.
Many fans turning up for the semi-final between South China and Instant-Dict for the first soccer game at the soaring stadium in So Kon Po were unaware that tickets could not be bought at the new ground.
For safety reasons police insisted that fans buy tickets at nearby South China Athletic Association before entering the new ground.
Ms Miranda Yu, assistant secretary of the HKFA, said yesterday: ''It was very worrying for some time. There were thousands of fans and they did not know how the tickets were being sold.
''There were some dangerous moments when it looked as if some of them might break the plate glass windows. They were really desperate to see the game and I understand the police were also worried about the situation.
''Now we have been informed that all tickets for Sunday's final must be pre-sold,'' said a hoarse-voiced Ms Yu. She almost lost her voice completely relaying messages to the crowd about ticketing arrangements for the semi-final.
For safety reasons, the upper tiers of the new-look ground will not be used for the final as was the case with Tuesday's game.
That restricts the number of seats available to 21,000 and, despite strict pre-sale conditions, there is no doubt the final will be a sell-out.
Already all 3,000 tickets priced at $100 for the mid-West section of the ground have been sold and there are only 7,000 tickets remaining for the $70 section.
Tickets are on sale at the Hongkong FA offices in Homantin, South China AA and four offices of the Sunflower Travel Agency.
