' Anger and frustration for fans '

Anger and frustration for fans as loyalty scheme for World Cup qualifiers punishes many faithful Wales supporters

Thursday 21/07/16


BY PHILIP DEWEY


The FAW has revealed a staggered approach to the sale of tournament tickets, but many loyal fans could miss out



Loyal Wales fans have expressed their anger towards a “flawed” ticket allocation system devised to reward loyal supporters ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has announced a “staggered” approach to ticket sales for fans wanting to buy a package of tickets to all five of Wales’ home games for the campaign.

The scheme has been devised to meet an expected rise in demand for tickets following Wales’ Euro 2016 heroics.

Complicated procedure
On its website it states: “The FAW has introduced a staggered sales approach in order to priorities those Wales Supporters Club members who have previously held a membership and EURO 2016 Tournament Ticket.”


Loyal fans who meet a criteria set out by the football association will get an opportunity to buy tickets for the qualifying campaign before they are made available to other FAW members.

However, anyone that did not renew their FAW membership before June 9 this year - regardless of past support, whether they travelled to France or have been regular supporters for many years, will bot benefit from the system.

View of the fans
Wales fans ahead of the England match
As a result a number of incensed fans have spoken out against the system on social media, fearing they could miss out on seeing the World Cup qualifiers.

Neil Williams said: “Appalled to see that my years of TT’s and gold memberships now get trumped by newbies who bought before June 9.”

Siôn said: “Didn’t renew til after I came back from four weeks in France so I have to wait til round four to buy? Seems a bit harsh.”

Jon Amos wrote: “I’ve got the same priority as someone who’s bought a £10 membership yesterday and never been to a game!!”.

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Demand is clearly taking over supply there is a logical answer a few miles down the road

Demand is clearly taking over supply there is a logical answer a few miles down the road

Classic cutting off your nose despite your face.

Not sure what the fuss is all about

Clearly the people kicking off have either missed the deadline or not read the stage details

If you had a membership previously you would be above someone who just signed up for first time

Just renewed my England membership before the deadline - last campaign 12000 subscribed before deadline only 4500 this time - fans voting with there feet !!

Not sure if Ive read this correctly but stage 1 - are you allowed to take 2 tickets and then give that other ticket to anyone - fo example someone who is not even registered or may have never even been to a game? If that correct it's very harsh in my opinion.

Not sure if Ive read this correctly but stage 1 - are you allowed to take 2 tickets and then give that other ticket to anyone - fo example someone who is not even registered or may have never even been to a game? If that correct it's very harsh in my opinion.

That's how I read it those people can have two tickets, in other phases membership per ticket is required.

What a joke.

Been to Ukraine away, Belgium away and most of the qualifiers - Watched Speedo's last game... and now not considered important enough to get a ticket for me and my Dad...

Tbh before the Euros I never saw the point in the membership, always used to be easy to get tickets on the night and watch the games. Regretting it now because I've Been to every home match for past 8/9 years and also went to 3 games in France but their is obviously no record of my name on with the Faw. Guess I'll just have to hope for the general sale or buy a ticket from a mate

Even though I have renewed my membership and I had one for the euros .i was fan who didn't go to the euros for various reasons i did applie for tickets through the right channels but did not have any joy .if I'm honest I'm 54years old know and have watched Wales many times to be honest I have never been abroad watching Wales others than trips to wembley and when we played at anfield a few times but does that make me any less a fan don't forget I'm a season ticket holder at Cardiff City you money only allows to do so much .when I see some of the fans who it did make my blood boil some of the Welsh fans who claim to support Man U or liverpool don't even go there .theres a diffrent kind of fan who follow Wales I've seen it for myself diffrent to the Cardiff City and swansea supporters. If I'm honest I'll applie for tickets but I won't get to disappointed if I don't get them if I'm honest I'm fed up with all arguments about tickets and the cost of it all.a lot of Cardiff City fans stopped going to watch cardiff for all pathetic reasons I'm sure the same will happen to Wales if results don't go for them then you will hear all the pathetic reason again who will always be left the die hards

I might be wrong but surely if there's 18,000 members and they're only allowed to get 1 ticket per membership them there will still be ~12,000 tickets going on general sale. So surely even if you're in Stage 4 for buying tickets you'll still have half the stadium unsold?
Maybe I've misunderstood the situation but what is that people are complaining about?

I might be wrong but surely if there's 18,000 members and they're only allowed to get 1 ticket per membership them there will still be ~12,000 tickets going on general sale. So surely even if you're in Stage 4 for buying tickets you'll still have half the stadium unsold?
Maybe I've misunderstood the situation but what is that people are complaining about?

1st phase get 2 tickets and by time get to 4th phase you will be paying £100 to £120 for taunament tickets! I presume on match by match sales no problem getting ticket but bet won't be cheap ones left.

Why do they make it so complicated why can't fans members or not just be able to phone up hundreds went to France who havnt seen a Wales game in decades

I might be wrong but surely if there's 18,000 members and they're only allowed to get 1 ticket per membership them there will still be ~12,000 tickets going on general sale. So surely even if you're in Stage 4 for buying tickets you'll still have half the stadium unsold?
Maybe I've misunderstood the situation but what is that people are complaining about?

1st phase get 2 tickets and by time get to 4th phase you will be paying £100 to £120 for taunament tickets! I presume on match by match sales no problem getting ticket but bet won't be cheap ones left.

True, didn't consider that. I'd guess that most of the people in Stage 1 and 2 would mostly be buying in the Canton stand. Tbh even paying £100 for 5 games in the family stand/corners is pretty good.
I can't really complain as I've never been a member and only bought my membership last week.
Do agree that it's fucked over some other fans though

I might be wrong but surely if there's 18,000 members and they're only allowed to get 1 ticket per membership them there will still be ~12,000 tickets going on general sale. So surely even if you're in Stage 4 for buying tickets you'll still have half the stadium unsold?
Maybe I've misunderstood the situation but what is that people are complaining about?

1st phase get 2 tickets and by time get to 4th phase you will be paying £100 to £120 for taunament tickets! I presume on match by match sales no problem getting ticket but bet won't be cheap ones left.

True, didn't consider that. I'd guess that most of the people in Stage 1 and 2 would mostly be buying in the Canton stand. Tbh even paying £100 for 5 games in the family stand/corners is pretty good.
I can't really complain as I've never been a member and only bought my membership last week.
Do agree that it's fucked over some other fans though

All members will get tickets I would imagine, but not at price or area they want.

The problem I've got and hundreds of people will have is that I had a tournament ticket for the Euro qualifiers,and attended every game with 2 others, BUT the tickets were all booked in a mate's name which means if they look at my details, officially I didn't attend 1 match. I bought a world cup membership when they came out, but will count for sod all, looks like I've got to wait until the last batch are released on Aug 3rd, probably end up sitting by a load of rugger buggers.

From the FAW site

Following an internal review on 21 July 2016, the criteria for stage 2 has been revised.
There is no longer a requirement to have renewed membership for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign before 10th June.

anyone having trouble with faw site? according to it saysseats are take even though they are suppose to be availabe?

anyone having trouble with faw site? according to it saysseats are take even though they are suppose to be availabe?

Yes, it's happening to me, but I took that to mean that I couldn't buy any yet. I assume I don't meet the stage 1 criteria?

anyone having trouble with faw site? according to it saysseats are take even though they are suppose to be availabe?

Yes, it's happening to me, but I took that to mean that I couldn't buy any yet. I assume I don't meet the stage 1 criteria?

Apparently had glidge which allowed anyone to buy tickets but they have sorted it and back to normal cryteria !