Dortmund scuffles as fans seek tickets
Source: Agencies |
April 17, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BORUSSIA Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted his club underestimated ticket demands for its Champions League home semifinal against Real Madrid after fights broke out yesterday.
Dortmund hosts Real at Signal Iduna Park stadium on April 24, but there was chaos before tickets went on sale at 9am yesterday, half an hour later than planned, as brawls broke out between fans, many of whom had queued overnight.
Around 100 police officers were deployed to break up scuffles amongst supporters waiting in queues at separate locations in Dortmund city center as the tickets available were snapped up within an hour.
"We had honestly underestimated this incredible stampede, it's our fault" admitted Watzke after some fans had queued since Sunday evening.
"We will learn our lessons from this and not offer a free-for-all ticket sale in future."
Police had organized the lines from midnight on Monday after gangs had tried to aggressively jump in, but officers reported fights breaking out in the early hours of yesterday.
Two people were arrested and charged with assault, while a third was taken into custody and paramedics had to twice intervene after fans collapsed in the lines.
Watzke said Dortmund will reorganize its advance ticket sales in future so organized gangs, operating on the black market, cannot profit and to avoid the chaos that left some fans empty-handed despite queuing overnight.
After some supporters began camping out 36 hours before tickets went on sale, Dortmund President Reinhard Rauball and club icon Norbert Dickel had handed out hot dogs and drinks to the queuing masses.
With around 80,000 spectators per game, Dortmund has the second highest average attendance in Europe behind Barcelona. The first leg has been sold out with all 66,829 tickets gone. Dortmund beat Real in the group stage.
Dortmund hosts Real at Signal Iduna Park stadium on April 24, but there was chaos before tickets went on sale at 9am yesterday, half an hour later than planned, as brawls broke out between fans, many of whom had queued overnight.
Around 100 police officers were deployed to break up scuffles amongst supporters waiting in queues at separate locations in Dortmund city center as the tickets available were snapped up within an hour.
"We had honestly underestimated this incredible stampede, it's our fault" admitted Watzke after some fans had queued since Sunday evening.
"We will learn our lessons from this and not offer a free-for-all ticket sale in future."
Police had organized the lines from midnight on Monday after gangs had tried to aggressively jump in, but officers reported fights breaking out in the early hours of yesterday.
Two people were arrested and charged with assault, while a third was taken into custody and paramedics had to twice intervene after fans collapsed in the lines.
Watzke said Dortmund will reorganize its advance ticket sales in future so organized gangs, operating on the black market, cannot profit and to avoid the chaos that left some fans empty-handed despite queuing overnight.
After some supporters began camping out 36 hours before tickets went on sale, Dortmund President Reinhard Rauball and club icon Norbert Dickel had handed out hot dogs and drinks to the queuing masses.
With around 80,000 spectators per game, Dortmund has the second highest average attendance in Europe behind Barcelona. The first leg has been sold out with all 66,829 tickets gone. Dortmund beat Real in the group stage.
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