Committee men get England tickets

The FSF says one issue is security for the match in Manchester

Fifty tickets for the England-Wales World Cup game will go to each Football Association of Wales (FAW) committee man, it has emerged.

As the row grows over the allocation of 6,500 Wales' tickets, the 27 FAW committee members will be able to buy a total of 1,350 for October's match.

Fans' groups are unhappy more tickets are not going directly to supporters.

But the FAW said committee men were among the best people for ensuring tickets get to the local grassroots.

There has already been criticism from some supporters that 2,000 of the allocation for the game at Manchester United's ground, Old Trafford, on 9 October will go to members of the official travel club.

It would have been fairly easy to organise a ballot, say of those with season tickets for the remaining World Cup qualifiers Steve Powell, Football Supporters' Federation

A FAW spokesman confirmed that the 27 council members, who come from all parts of Wales, will be able to buy up to 50 tickets.

They will then be able to distribute them either to their respective area associations, leagues or clubs.

'Right to buy'

A FAW spokesman said: "We're very happy to do it the way we're doing it. There's no conspiracy.

"The council members represent all parts of Wales and they're amongst the best people to make sure that the tickets do get to the grassroots."

However, Steve Powell, development officer for the Football Supporters' Federation and a Wales supporter, said many regular fans would not have the opportunity to apply.

He said there was also a security issue and it was also the experience of the FSF that, when tickets were not allocated directly to supporters, there was more of a chance some would end up on the black market.

"We're very disappointed that the FAW didn't consult supporters," said Mr Powell.

"What about the tens of thousands who go to games at the Millennium Stadium?

"They could have had a chance of tickets, it would have been fairly easy to organise a ballot, say of those with season tickets for the remaining World Cup qualifiers."

Mr Powell praised the FAW for allocating some tickets to fans who had travelled abroad but said there were "loopholes" in the ticket distribution system.

He said: "We're not pointing the finger here and I know a lot of councillors do good work for football in Wales but as we understand it, each of them has the right to buy tickets and that's the end of it."

While few Welsh fans will get into Old Trafford on the day, they will be able to watch the game on three giant screens at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The stadium said tickets were selling fast for its "family fun day," with the doors opening at 1400 BST for the kick-off an hour later.