Football’s world governing body Fifa has insisted that corporate clients are not responsible for the empty seats seen at World Cup games so far in Brazil.
Fifa said that 701,710 of the 716,176 seats available for the first 14 matches had been filled, with Friday’s contest between the Netherlands and Spain filling only 48,173 of the 51,900 available, with more than 3,500 seats remaining empty at the stadium in Salvador.
However, Fifa spokesperson Delia Fischer told reporters that corporate clients such as sponsors and partners – usually blamed by fans in these circumstances – were not responsible. “These seats are not empty because corporate people are failing to turn up for them,” Fischer said.
“They are empty, because for whatever reason, fans who bought tickets are not turning up for the matches,” she added. “Fifa has done a great deal of work to ensure that there are not rows of empty seats taken and not used by corporate clients and you will not see that at this World Cup, but we cannot legislate for people not coming to games despite buying tickets.”
Only one match so far – the Argentina v Bosnia & Herzegovina game on Sunday at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro – has attracted a capacity crowd, with all 74,738 seats being sold and used.
Fifa said that 701,710 of the 716,176 seats available for the first 14 matches had been filled, with Friday’s contest between the Netherlands and Spain filling only 48,173 of the 51,900 available, with more than 3,500 seats remaining empty at the stadium in Salvador.
However, Fifa spokesperson Delia Fischer told reporters that corporate clients such as sponsors and partners – usually blamed by fans in these circumstances – were not responsible. “These seats are not empty because corporate people are failing to turn up for them,” Fischer said.
“They are empty, because for whatever reason, fans who bought tickets are not turning up for the matches,” she added. “Fifa has done a great deal of work to ensure that there are not rows of empty seats taken and not used by corporate clients and you will not see that at this World Cup, but we cannot legislate for people not coming to games despite buying tickets.”
Only one match so far – the Argentina v Bosnia & Herzegovina game on Sunday at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro – has attracted a capacity crowd, with all 74,738 seats being sold and used.
Political issues is really affecting the world cup. Brand-owners can only key into the momentum.
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