IFA say UEFA are responsible as anger grows over tickets fiasco

In a statement issued this afternoon in response to the general outcry amongst Northern Ireland fans over a loyalty scheme that apparently failed to prioritise those who had attended past games, the IFA said it had compiled a priority list based on fans’ attendance at previous games.

This list, it said, had been shared with UEFA last month, but an increasing number of Northern Ireland fans with many loyalty points appear to have missed out on tickets, while some with poor previous attendance have been successful with all their applications.

An IFA spokesperson said: “UEFA are responsible for managing the ticket application process for EURO 2016.

“The Irish FA spent three months working with fans and supporters’ groups to create a priority list based on attendance at Northern Ireland matches over the past two qualifying campaigns. That list was shared with UEFA on 29th January.

“It was our understanding that the priority list would be the basis for all ticket applications for Northern Ireland’s group games at EURO 2016. We are currently asking UEFA how the list was applied, particularly in relation to the game against Poland in Nice.”

The biggest issue appears to focus on Northern Ireland’s opening game against Poland in Nice on June 12 - the match with the smallest ticket allocation (6,800).

The problem seems to relate to the price category of tickets fans applied for.

Those with limited or no loyalty points appear to have been able to secure seats in the more expensive areas of the stadium, while supporters with many loyalty points who applied for tickets in the more in-demand cheaper seats have missed out.

The fans took to social media to vent their fury.

Gordon Gough tweeted: “How can a block booker with stacks of points not get tickets for Nice? Sort it out IFA! #Shambles”

Owen Polley described it as a “fiasco”.

Paul Arbuthnot asked the IFA: “Is there any appeal process, or are all the tickets gone?”

On Twitter, Robert Millar wrote: “What has happened with this ticket allocation, Total shambles. People with zero points get all tickets. Reals fans get nowt.”