FAI Rip off Supporters Clubs...

[bluemovie]

Lads I go to every home game and get my tickets through various sources. I've never gone through the supporters club, but I'm outraged by this. This is a real sign of the way the FAI operate. I remember after that rubbish Canada friendly, Pat Dolan said in the Star that the 23,000 (?) who turned up should be guaranteed tickets for life. This move is disgraceful and I mean that in it's most literal terms.....they are bringing shame upon our national team.

Let's start bombarding the FAI, the media, the clubs. You know they will try to use the approach that they only promised to "accomodate" the fans and have done this to the best of their ability in the circumstances, bla bla bla, but all the tickets for the IFSC will come through.

Count me in for whatever approach is taken.

[MariborKev]

Let's start bombarding the FAI, the media, the clubs. You know they will try to use the approach that they only promised to "accomodate" the fans and have done this to the best of their ability in the circumstances, bla bla bla, but all the tickets for the IFSC will come through.

We are working on a response. If you know who looks after the Waterford allocation please get in touch with me.

I am still waiting to hear from Rovers, Shels and most of the First Division clubs

[Schumi]

Got that letter yesterday as well. What an absolute disgrace. How am I supposed to tell people that have paid for tickets for China and paid months in advance for Italy that they won't get tickets for France or Switzerland or Israel?

[MariborKev]

Anyone with a comprehensive list of journos writing for Irish papers and their email addresses please get in touch with me

[higgins]

I won't give my money to british football

Eanna since when have the Irish team become a british footblalling team.. Relax a little there.

Does anyone have the figure that the FAI said were for EL fans? Was it always as many as you would take or was there a constant figure..

[Schumi]

Does anyone have the figure that the FAI said were for EL fans? Was it always as many as you would take or was there a constant figure..

750 was the total figure they mentioned in the letter they sent to me. This being dropped to 240. The amount of tickets was constant for every game since Brazil.

[MariborKev]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5th May 2005

Fans accuse FAI of dubious ticket tactics.

Representatives of Irish football supporters from around the country have today rounded on the FAI for breaking promises it gave them regarding match-day tickets. They claim that a block-booking arrangement for international match tickets that was introduced in 2003 has now been exposed as worthless.

Since 2003, supporters clubs from the 22 Eircom League clubs have had a ticketing agreement in-place with the FAI. The agreement was designed to meet FAI concerns regarding a lack of matchday atmosphere at Lansdowne Rd, and to ease the association’s difficulty in selling tickets for less popular games. It also sought to enable many of those who support Irish football week-in week-out at a club level to gain access to home international tickets.

The ticketing arrangement that was agreed at that time saw Eircom League supporters clubs from across the country commit to take a significant allocation of tickets in the North Terrace for all Ireland international matches – including poorly-attended fixtures like the games against Canada and China. In return, they were given assurances regarding block-booking access to all other games. The agreement also enabled Eircom League supporters to introduce a carnival atmosphere to Ireland games, with drums, constant signing and massive flags imported from Italy. The change in noise, colour and atmosphere at the games became quickly apparent, even earning the public praise of Manager Brian Kerr on a number of occasions.

Since 2003, the North Terrace block-booking scheme has proven to be a great success for both Irish domestic soccer fans and the FAI. Members of the scheme have block-purchased over 750 tickets for every game since then - including the less popular friendly and competitive ties (e.g. Cyprus and the Faroe Isles). Through the scheme, supporters clubs were warned by the FAI that failure to take-up their allocation for such “smaller games” would result in the overall future block-booking allocation being cut. As a result, supporters groups around the country forced their own members to take tickets for the less popular games, in return for assurances that they would receive an allocation for the big matches. In total, this block-booking arrangement has seen Eircom League supporters pour over €150,000 into the FAI’s ticketing coffers, whilst also providing a significant boost to the atmosphere at games.

However - with the home game against Israel only 4 weeks away, representatives of the supporters groups involved in the block-booking arrangement have today received letters from the FAI informing them that their allocation for the upcoming game is to be cut by 70%. The FAI claim they are unable to fulfil their usual North Stand arrangement as the Israelis have requested their full ticket entitlement for the upcoming fixture. However at no point were the members of the North Terrace block-booking scheme made aware by the FAI that such a possibility could arise, and no consultation has been offered on the issue. This has resulted in the loss of over 500 tickets to some of Irish football’s most ardent supporters - despite assurances at the start of the qualifying campaign that they were guaranteed tickets for every home game.

Fan’s representative Kevin McDaid commented “The members of this block-booking scheme are the lifeblood of Irish football. They are seen week-in, week-out supporting the local game at stadiums across the country. They also attend Ireland away games – including difficult and expensive ones like Israel and the Faroes. Yet when the FAI needs to find a few extra tickets, we’re the ones who have to suffer. Our support for Irish football at all levels over the years now seems to count for nothing”.

Ciaran Ruane of the UCD supporters club – a member of scheme -, added “ Everyone acknowledges the good work of the FAI at the introduction of the scheme in 2003. It really has helped boost attendances at smaller games, improve the atmosphere in the stadium, and enable genuine fans of the local game to see their heroes at home as well as away. But it appears that the organisation is prepared to destroy the goodwill generated amongst its most active supporters with gestures like this”.

Representatives of the various supporter groups involved in the scheme are now calling on the FAI to review its decision as a matter of urgency. “If they need to find extra tickets to accommodate the Israeli fans, surely they should spread the burden for this around the stadium – and not just focus it upon the very fans who have been so active in supporting them over the years”.

The group is calling upon the FAI to reinstate 400 or more of the 500 tickets they are planning to withdraw, and is urging them to instead deduct tickets from elsewhere in the ground so as not to damage their core fans.

[cullenswood]

Excellent, well-balanced piece. Where is it being published?

[tiktok]

It reads well alright, though I'd be careful about calling them to deduct the tickets from elsewhere in the ground, we need as much support as possible for this, and those that are regular blockbookers are no less deserving.

I'd aim it more towards pointing at the number of corporate tickets the FAI give away

[Danny]

Good piece lads.
Lets hope someone take notice of it.

[monutdfc]

I'd leave out the tabloidesque tone (eg "exposed as worthless") and stick to the facts. Let the sub editors do that for you. JMHO.

Also, when the scheme was originally introduced (Albania and Georgia as I recall), the eL allocation was from the visiting associations allocation that was not taken up. It was the same arrangment for the Russia game. It is since then that the supposed block-booking arrangement was put in place. Soccerc should be able to give you the details.

[Schumi]

Also, when the scheme was originally introduced (Albania and Georgia as I recall), the eL allocation was from the visiting associations allocation that was not taken up. It was the same arrangment for the Russia game. It is since then that the supposed block-booking arrangement was put in place. Soccerc should be able to give you the details.

The situation was changed for this qualifying group (or at least it was supposed to be).

[joeraki]

Whats the break down in tickets for games. If the place holds 36'000 seated, anyone know who gets what ? block bookers, sponsors, various clubs etc...

If all those above are sorted and the FAI said they'd accommodate EL fans in the event of away fans taken a full allocation then theres something seriously wrong or theres been some Big lies told

[Troy.McClure]

Representatives of the various supporter groups involved in the scheme are now calling on the FAI to review its decision as a matter of urgency. “If they need to find extra tickets to accommodate the Israeli fans, surely they should spread the burden for this around the stadium – and not just focus it upon the very fans who have been so active in supporting them over the years”.

Is this by Ciaran too? I think it needs a name to go with the quote (if you still have time to edit). Excellently written though. I wonder how long it will take Alan hunter to find this band waggon and jump on it?

[monutdfc]

The situation was changed for this qualifying group (or at least it was supposed to be).

That's what I thought. If you go with a press release attacking the FAI (or any group) you need to have all your facts correct. Otherwise they just focus on the inaccuracies and use them to undermine your whole position.

[Éanna]

Eanna since when have the Irish team become a british footblalling team.. Relax a little there.

I wasn't saying that, I said I won't give my money to British football. The FAI don't give a hoot about Irish football, and all the players who get their match fee play in England- so IMO if the money is going anywhere, it certainly ain't going to Irish football

[pineapple stu]

Why anyone bothers giving money to the scum in the FAI I really don't know. To hell with them. Before now there was a small chance of me going back to Landsdowne sometime in the future- can't see it happening now. I won't give my money to british football

Think you need to differentiate between the national team and the FAI. It's like not going to Cork City games because you don't like the board. Also, I don't know how the money is going to British football - it's going to Irish players (or players of Irish origin, which is an argument I'm not about to get into again), not British football.

Anyway, let's see where this press release leads...

[Maynard]

Reads well, although due to it's length I'd imagine most journo's would just quote certain passages from it, but so long as it's not misquoted that should do no harm. Here's hoping it'll have some effect...

[harpskid]

Excellent piece Maribor.

Here's hoping that someof the journos take this on board and expose this for the shambles that it really is!

[Colie]

I think Brian Kerr needs to be confronted on this. We know he loves the local game, I wonder how he feels about those diks doing this to the fans he knows & loves?