SEA Games men’s football final tickets stir black market
>> Tien Linh’s extra-time goal sends Vietnam into SEA Games men’s football final
Tickets for the final of the men’s football at the ongoing SEA Games 31 are being offered for sale at shockingly high prices of up to VND8 million (USD348) each.
People buy tickets for the match from the black market outside the My Dinh Stadium on May 20.
The match is to take place at the 40,000-seat National My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on May 22. Apart from the 20,000 digital tickets sold online, the Organising Board has kept 20,000 seats to distribute themselves.
According to the Organising Board, all the 20,000 tickets have been sold out right after being put up for sale online on May 15.
Each account created on the website digiticket.vn, authorised by the Games’ Organising Committee, is permitted to purchase no more than two tickets whose prices range from VND 300,000 (USD13) to VND 500,000 (USD22).
After the host team Vietnam won the semifinal against Malaysia on May 19 to secure a place in the final, tickets for the match have become much sought after on the black market..
On many internet forums, a ticket on Stand A is being offered for sale at VND 8 million which is 16 times higher than its price set by the organising board. Tickets for Stand B are now priced at VND7.5 million each.
Stand D tickets, which are priced at VND300,000, are now being asked for VND1.5 million on the black market.
A football fan, Pham Cong, said that he could not afford the tickets on Stand A and Stand B and so he bought one on Stand D.
"I know that it is difficult to watch the game from Stand D but it's ok," he said. "I just want to enjoy the atmosphere in the stadium."
Leave your comment on this story