Uefa pledge on future Euro finals as touts cash in on ticket demand

May 21 2007 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

UEFA today promised to try to give more tickets to genuine fans for future European finals.

The football governing body has come under fire for the 17,000 allocation handed to both Liverpool and Milan supporters for Wednesday’s Champions League showpiece.

Today chief spokesman Rob Faulkner told the ECHO they would review the number of tickets given to fans in coming seasons.

It comes as the national Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) urged fans who buy vastly inflated tickets on the black market to flood Uefa’s Swiss headquarters with stubs.

Many Liverpool fans face having to pay up to £2,000 to touts to get inside the stadium on Wednesday.

Steven Powell, head of development at the FSF, said: “The allocation that each finalist gets from Uefa is scandalously low.

“Every true supporter knows that thousands of tickets will circulate on the black market in Athens.”

The FSF is calling on fans to get in touch after May 23 and send them a copy of their illegally-bought stub.

Mr Faulkner, Uefa director of communications, said: “After the final, there will be a big debrief and the issue of tickets will be among the issues discussed.

“We will listen to concerns and try to get more tickets into the hands of fans for future European finals.”

Uefa also slammed travel agents not affiliated to football clubs, who offer package deals for European finals without a guarantee of a ticket.

An FSF fans' helpline will operate for Liverpool supporters in Athens on 07956 121314.