Worried FIFA chiefs reveal that 500, 000 World Cup tickets still unsold - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Desperate FIFA bosses have revealed that at least 500, 000 World Cup tickets remain unsold with the tournament two months away. According to The Sun, they are hoping to put the tickets on sale alongside cans of beans at shopping centers and supermarkets in South Africa. At this stage, in Germany four years ago, virtually every ticket had been sold, but the global recession, the high cost of flying to South Africa and safety fears have resulted in thousands of tickets and packages being returned by travel agents. The organizers have also realized that the initial online process has not suited to local fans, who are generally poor, do not have credit cards and are not used to buying tickets on the internet. Tickets have been pegged as low as 14 pounds for South African residents. FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valckewas quoted as saying: "The challenge we are working on is to make sure all the stadiums are full and that we are selling all these tickets." South Africa 2010 Chief Danny Jordan added: "If we have empty stadiums, it will reinforce the idea that football is not supported in the country and that would be tragic. The reality is that this is a football-mad country. FIFA had earlier claimed that 2.2 million tickets had been bought ahead of the final push.