FIFA responded Friday to criticism of empty seats during a World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic, blaming fans standing in concourses for holding tickets without occupying assigned bowls.
Stadium scanners count entries, not continuous seating, allowing supporters to watch on big screens near concessions while broadcast cameras show vacant lower tiers.
Ticket resale above face value also left some purchasers outside security perimeters late into kickoff, according to fan forums FIFA cited.
Fact-checkers verified that televised wide shots did reflect thousands of no-shows, but not a complete absence of spectators as some posts claimed.
Organizers promised stricter monitoring of concourse loitering during knockout rounds when hospitality suites fill.
Sports economists noted that inflated group-stage supply in sprawling host countries can produce uneven attendance even for competitive fixtures.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/fifa-empty-seats-world-cup-fan-concourses-south-korea-vs-czechia-10737847/