Tickets for Indian Super League final sold out

Kochi: ‘Sold-out:’  The word, handwritten on a piece of paper and hung on a fence outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, the venue for ISL-3 final between Kerala Blasters and Atlético de Kolkata, sent  football fans in Kerala into meltdown on Thursday evening. Last-minute ticket buyers were pushed into a state of delirium as this announcement was being put up, less than half-a-day after Mohammed Rafique had ensured Kerala’s passage to the final with the decisive spotkick, and more than three days before the big match.

“Online tickets were almost sold out by Wednesday night so that there was a rush at the box office outside the stadium in the morning,” said an ISL official. “Tickets through the box office were also sold out by  3.30 p.m. today (Thursday).” About 20 per cent of the available tickets were sold online after the semifinal second leg. Unlike in the previous ISL matches in Kochi where the Kerala Blasters were  involved in the sales, the responsibility had changed hands to the ISL organising committee for the final. It could be argued that the fans were misinformed about the situation as during the league matches tickets were available at box offices until 5 p.m. on match-day.

With the fans starting to show their frustration on social media and after enquiries began pouring in at the venue, the Kerala Football Association brought out a statement.  “We understand the excitement of Kerala fans for the final. However, be informed that it is the ISL management that is selling all entry passes for the match and not the KFA,” read the statement. It is understood that about 52,000 seats were available for the final, out of which no more than 38,000 were priced, meaning the remaining were given as complimentary. The organisers said ticket sales started online on December 9.