Post by Taxigirl on Dec 2, 2003 9:34:39 GMT
The Stadium of Light is the venue for the final
Uefa has moved to allay fears that its ticketing policy will create a black market that could be a recipe for disaster at next summer's Euro 2004 finals.
Around 50,000 England fans are expected to descend upon Portugal for the finals.
In addition, large number of German, Dutch and Scandinavian fans will also take in the traditional summer sun spots of the Algarve.
Despite Uefa's measures to strictly control ticket sales, demand is almost certain to create a black market, which could provide a security nightmare.
Under Uefa measures, supporters will only be able to buy four tickets per match. The names of the buyer and the three other users will be registered.
Uefa's director of ticketing sales Martin Kallen is convinced tight control of ticket sales will prevent them falling into the wrong hands.
He told BBC Sport: "If you buy a ticket, your name will be on it.
"If you sell it on the black market and we find out, you will be punished."
Legislation is now in place to charge people who sell tickets which find their way on to the black market.
But BBC Sport news correspondent Nigel Adderley said: "There will be a black market, and there are some big first-round games - Germany against Holland, Portugal against Spain, France-England, and even Denmark and Sweden.
"Uefa say ticket sales will be tightly controlled but around 50,000 fans will be on the Algarve. Not everyone will be able to get tickets and the black market is there.
"Tickets will still find their way on to the black market, and even if a ticket has a name on it, if it's chaotic outside the ground checks are not as strong as they say they will be, then people will get in and that's where trouble starts.
"There should be more tickets available now Uefa has decided to move England's last group game against Croatia from Coimbra, with a capacity of 30,000, to the 65,000-capacity Stadium of Light in Lisbon.
"Uefa has learned lessons from Euro 2000 when Charlerois was inadequate for England and it caused numerous problems.
"Moving the match to Lisbon means Croatia will get a bigger allocation, but they don't traditionally have a large travelling support.
"Many believe the only way to prevent trouble at England games is for them to have no tickets.
"But that's not practical for a tournament. People are free to come to a place like Portugal in the summer and move around.