1 month ago
35
By Duc Dong  December 26, 2024 | 11:57 pm PT
Thousands of fans gathered at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho Province early on Friday, jostling and climbing fences to purchase tickets for the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup semifinal between Vietnam and Singapore.
By 6 a.m., long before the ticket counter’s scheduled opening at 8 a.m., fans have flooded the area around the stadium and Phu Tho Sports Center in the northern province.
Many had reserved spots the night before, but their numbers were dwarfed by the surge of fans arriving early in the morning, leading to chaotic scenes of pushing and shoving.
The organizers only opened a single ticket counter inside the sports center, with each fan allowed to purchase a maximum of two tickets priced at VND300,000 ($11.80), VND500,000, and VND600,000, double the rates for group-stage matches.
Most tickets for the match were sold out online within 15 minutes on Dec. 22, leaving only a limited number available for direct purchase.
Desperate to get inside, some fans bypassed the queue entirely, climbing fences or jumping gates to enter the stadium.
However, security forces quickly intervened, escorting them out and denying their access to tickets.
There were two elderly women, both over 80 years old, who were given priority by security and fans to purchase tickets. When asked about the names of the players, they admitted they did not know but were eager to experience the football atmosphere and support for the home team.
As the ticket sales approached, the crowd's jostling intensified, leading to scuffles, threats, and some even fainted.
"It’s exhausting and miserable," said Nghia, a supporter. "I just wanted to see Vietnam players play in real life."
At 8:05 a.m., ticket sales officially began. This female fan was one of the first to successfully purchase the tickets.
But not everyone was lucky like that. Many others were left outside, frustrated and fatigued. Some have brought chairs, blankets, and even beds to secure their place in line overnight.
With a capacity of 20,000, Viet Tri Stadium had already been packed during the group stage matches.
For the semi-final, ticket availability was further limited by regulations requiring 2,000 seats to be allocated to the visiting team, alongside seats reserved for sponsors and partners.
Fans were required to queue accordingly, with organizers guiding each person to the ticket booth.
To maintain order, police and riot control officers were on standby throughout the event.
A mother and child, who had spent the night waiting, managed to enter the stadium but had to sit and rest as it was not yet their turn to purchase tickets. Nearby, a fellow fan offered assistance to the child.
At 11 a.m., the organizers announced that the tickets were sold out. One male fan was seen in tears as he exited the stadium, regretting the hours spent waiting in vain.
Meanwhile, some people who have successfully purchased the tickets tried to resell them for up to VND2 million per pair.
The second leg of the semifinals will kick off at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29. Vietnam enter the match with a big advantage, having secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg.
