– It is sad to leave empty seats when so many people want to go to a match, says news’s football expert Elise Thorsnes. When England’s new football heroes were ready for the semi-final at home, UEFA released new tickets for the match against Sweden. According to local media, they sold out in minutes. Nevertheless, several of the seats along the long side were empty, while the seats behind the goal were filled to the brim. news has noticed the problem throughout the championship. Often the best seats, along the middle of the pitch, have been empty. – So many seats have obviously been sold to the sponsors that their lack of commitment becomes an issue. Sponsor tickets have contributed to empty seats and generated enthusiasm at the men’s championships for a number of years. Now the women have become big enough to feel the same paradox, says news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt. – Sponsors often get a given number of tickets, but not all sponsors are equally eager. Then perhaps the tickets should have been given or sold on to someone who actually wants to go to the match, says Thorsnes. She was only present at Norway’s 8-0 loss against England, and says she did not notice the problem there. TETTPAKKA: In the turn behind the goal, however, there was a full house in the semi-final. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news – A small number who have not turned up The empty seats have also surprised the host nation. Local media have questioned why this is so, and the Daily Mail reported earlier in the championship that UEFA (the European Football Association) has chosen to sell only sections of the stadium. Thus, some seats have appeared as sold, despite the fact that they have never been for sale. news has contacted UEFA with questions about why these seats are empty when matches are sold out to the public. news has asked, among other things, whether this could be due to the fact that the tickets have been added to sponsors, or whether there are problems with UEFA’s ticket portal. Despite two inquiries, UEFA will not answer the questions concretely, but points to several factors which they believe are the reason why the seats are empty. – There have been a small number who have not turned up for any matches, which may be due to the heat wave, travel problems and an increase in corona infection. For example, there was a train strike in Great Britain on Wednesday, Uefa says in an email, referring to travel advice it gave supporters before the semi-final between France and Germany, to avoid traveling by train. – Doesn’t sound good Our Swedish neighbors were beaten in the aforementioned semi-final against England. Nor do they think anything of the fact that the very best seats are vacant during the knock-out rounds. – It is clear that we want as many spectators as possible in the stands at the games, so if those seats are empty, I don’t think it sounds good, says Nathalie Björn. SAME PROBLEM: The same problem could be seen in the quarter-final between Germany and Austria, and several other matches in the tournament. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news Also in the quarter-final between Austria and Germany, there were several empty seats along the center line of the pitch, and the problem has been present throughout the championship. – It is a pity. I know of many, many people who would like to see the quarter-finals, but will not get the opportunity. For the promotion of women’s football, this is not so good, Belgium’s coach Ives Serneels told news when asked before the quarter-final against Sweden. – Wrong focus Belgium star Justine Vanhaevermaet is also puzzled as to why this is so, but believes it is a problem in all of sport. – That is a good question. I don’t think it’s just in women’s football, but generally all those tickets go to sponsors and people who are invited. It’s a bit sad for people who really want to see the games, and can’t be there. But there is a problem in all major tournaments, believes the former LSK women’s player. – PROBLEM: Vanhaevermaet celebrates after scoring against Iceland in the EC. She believes empty seats are a problem in all major tournaments. Photo: CARL RECINE / Reuters At the same time, this championship has broken all records. 68,871 people turned up to watch the opening match between England and Austria, smashing the previous record for a European Championship. Even before the tournament, UEFA announced that 500,000 tickets had been sold. It was almost a doubling of the previous best record from the 2017 EC in the Netherlands. – Ironically, it is a good sign that we notice the empty seats. That we suddenly notice it in a women’s championship is something completely new, concludes Saltvedt.
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The match was “sold out in minutes” – now these photos are attracting attention – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
