MALAYSIA CUP FINAL: No go for numbered seats

DESPITE promising the implementation of numbered seats ticketing system for priority matches in June, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) will not do so for the Malaysia Cup final at Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday due to logistical issues.
FAM ticketing and gates chairman Datuk S. Sivasundaram said a study will be conducted before the system is implemented in the M-League.
"We are serious about it but we need to look into the pros and cons before making a decision," said Sivasundaram yesterday.
The idea of introducing numbered seats to avoid overcrowding in stadiums was mooted by the Kelantan FA during the FA Cup final organising committee meeting in June.
The national body was receptive then and had wanted to implement it for the Malaysia Cup final.
Meanwhile, Kelantan and Pahang have been allocated 30,000 tickets each for Sunday's final while the remaining 15,000, not including complimentary tickets, will go on sale at the venue tomorrow.
Tickets are priced at RM40 for adults and RM5 for children below 12.
Enforcement officers, totaling 2,155, will be stationed outside and inside the stadium while fans must go through three security checks before entering the stadium.
"Fans will be frisked in front of four stadium entry points and those found with illegal objects and flares will be arrested immediately.
"We will station 25 personnel at each gate to screen tickets with ultra violet light. Those with fake tickets will be arrested.
"Fans will go through a third security check after passing the entry gates before getting to their seats. We will do our best to stop fans from bringing in illegal items," said Sivasundaram.
Sivasundaram said a K-9 unit and the mounted police will be on standby to respond to any untoward incidents.
FAM competitions committee chairman Datuk Afandi Hamzah said tickets will go on sale simultaneously in Kuantan and Kota Baru tomorrow.
"We may have touts duplicating the original tickets and selling fake ones to fans. I hope fans will only purchase tickets from designated counters in Kuantan and Kota Baru," said Afandi.
The Kelantan FA will control the distribution of tickets to various supporters clubs, district division heads and bus operators.
"We will try our best to accommodate everyone including the public in the allocation of tickets. We have received many advance bookings.
"Bus operators need advance tickets but we will only entertain those registered with legitimate bodies," said its secretary Azman Ibrahim
FAM will distribute the allocated tickets to the respective FAs today.

Source : New Straits Times