Football: World Cup puts tickets on sale

A FURTHER 110,000 tickets for the World Cup will go on sale on 22 April to residents of 16 European countries, including Britain, the French organisers announced yesterday.

Reservations can only be made by phone and tickets will be restricted to four per person per game, with an overall limit of 16 per person. Tickets will be for the first round and quarter-finals, but not the opening game between Brazil and Scotland.

Telephone reservations will begin at 07.00 BST on 22 April and sales will be on a "first come first served" basis. The telephone number to call will be announced on 17 April.

A telephone switchboard will be manned by 90 operators, 60 of whom will speak several languages. Tickets can be paid for by credit card, or a certified cheque made out in French francs, which must be received by the organisers (CFO) within seven days of application.

The price of tickets, excluding postal and administrative charges, ranges from 145 francs (about pounds 14.50) to 350 francs (pounds 35) in the first round, and 200 francs (pounds 20) to 500 francs (pounds 50) in the second round.

The tickets have been made available following widespread criticism over the shortage of tickets. The European Union has threatened to fine the CFO for alleged discrimination in ticket sales, but the CFO has ignored demands that the new tickets be available only outside France.

Applicants must have an address in one of 16 European countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden.