TICKETS SHOULD BE SOLD TO FANS FIRST, NOT BLOCKED OUT TO YBs & POLITICIANS: JOHOR PRINCE ‘CHIDES’ KHAIRY OVER FOOTBALL FINAL’S TICKETING MESS-UP

I remember when JDT had important matches at the Larkin Stadium (Charity Cup) and Shah Alam Stadium (FA Cup). Back then, many politicians and high ranking state officials requested for ticket quotas of up to two thousand pieces.

I had then informed Captain Fahmy, the Administrative Officer of Johor Military Force, that I was not agreeable to the demands and gave only a few to them and the rest to the fans.

The fans are the heartbeat that motivates a football team whether it is a club or a national team. Football is nothing without fans.

HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Crown Prince of Johor

https://www.facebook.com/johorsoutherntigers.com.my/

MEANWHILE, according to Malaysiakini:

It is believed that Tunku Ismail was responding to the Ultras Malaya announcing that they would not attend the SEA Games football final between Malaysia and Thailand.

The fiery Ultras Malaya is Malaysia’s largest and most organised football supporters club.

From a statement taken from the Facebook page UM’07, the Ultras Malaya said that their boycott is a show of solidarity for the “12th man,” referring to fans who could not purchase tickets for the final.

“Ultras Malaya will stand in solidarity with all the 12th man, not just the victims of the weaknesses of the (ticket sales system) at the SEA Games, but also those who are the victims of greed every time the ticket sales system fails, whether for the M-League (Malaysia Super League) or other matches.

“For how long do we as fans have to face this situation? The Yang Berhormat (VIPs) are going back and forth with free tickets for every semi-final, final and big match, those who are connected can easily access tickets, while we as fans are not treated the same, despite us being the heartbeat of the sport.

“It is 2017, this is still happening, and always in Malaysian football,” the posting read.

Tickets to the final were sold yesterday at the Shah Alam Stadium and the nearby Malawati Stadium, but not online.

Thousands camped overnight outside the stadiums for a chance to purchase the tickets, but counters, which opened at 11am on Monday morning, experienced long periods of suspension throughout the day.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin clarified on Twitter that the decision to not sell the tickets online was due to the online payment gateway provider not being able to handle the volume of sales.-