Fans angry after it appears politicians have been allowed to buy large number of tickets for electoral purposes
TIRANA, June 5 – Anticipation of an important football match has been met with anger as many fans were unable to receive tickets for the Friday’s World Cup qualifier between Albania and Norway.
Tirana’s Qemal Stafa stadium, where the match is to take place, holds about 17,000 persons, but most seats appeared to have been booked by top officials and politicians who want to use the match of electoral purposes, giving tickets to supporters.
Reports indicated only 7,000 tickets were left for fans without political connections, and many of those who come from across the region to get a chance to see the match will likely be left out. The Albanian team is dreaming of making it to the World Cup in Brazil next year, a feat it has never accomplished before.
There was also some anger toward the Albanian Football Federation for pricing the tickets too high for ordinary Albanians. Top tickets sold for 8,000 leks, roughly 75 dollars. The seats behind the goals were as low as 500 leks, however, if tickets were still available.
Albania is second in Group L with 9 points, the same with Iceland and two behind Switzerland. Norway has seven points.
Italian coach Gianni de Biazi tried to lower the expectations of fans ahead of the game.
“We should take a step at a time. The mentality should change when expectations are based on the possibilities the team has. Until now there has been good work, but that is not enough. This match is not decisive but very important,” he said.
De Biazi will miss many key players like Cana, Lila and Roshi. Debatik Curri, a key defender, was injured during training this week and will miss the game.
“It is a very difficult match. The opponent will come very motivated in Tirana compared to the match in Oslo [where Albania won]. We should be like lions against the opponent, who will look for the maximum thing in Tirana,” said De Biazi.
