Thursday 30 October 2014 14:17, UK
UEFA has contacted the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) over a row involving ticket allocation for next month’s European Championship qualifying game.
It is understood that UEFA has slight concerns that tickets intended for Scotland supporters have been purchased by Republic of Ireland fans for the match at Celtic Park on November 14.
FAI officials are unhappy that only 3,209 tickets were made available and claim more than 12,000 supporters want to attend the international.
The FAI said in a statement: “It is particularly disappointing that the Scottish FA is continuing to sell tickets on its website after they had told us that the match was sold out. Many of these tickets are now being taken up by Irish supporters out of desperation, a situation that could be resolved easily by providing adequate numbers of away tickets in a designated Irish section of the stadium.”
The SFA is under no obligation to release more than the minimum 5% allocation and responded by saying: “Given the demand for tickets from Scotland supporters, and the need to comply with UEFA’s safety and security regulations, we will be unable to increase the Republic of Ireland’s away allocation.”
UEFA has appointed a security officer for the match after an initial risk assessment was carried out by European football’s governing body.
The official has recent experience at Celtic Park.
The appointment is routine for a game involving potential friction between fans, although UEFA officials are understood to have discussed the record of good behaviour involving Scotland and Republic of Ireland supporters.
UEFA has no plans to hold additional talks with Police Scotland over the matter and all parties will attend a routine security briefing, to discuss policing arrangements, the day before the match.
Police Scotland told Sky Sports News HQ: “Police Scotland is working closely with the SFA and other relevant agencies ahead of the game against the Republic of Ireland which, as with any major sporting event, will be policed appropriately.”
