For all of those who are heading over, has anyone heard any infomration about tickets for the two games.
As usual, Football Australia has no idea.
The Fanatics are doing their own tour and have said that they have pre ordered tickets already. I phoned them up to ask about ticket availability and they said they have their own contacts in the M.E who has got the tickets sorted on ground and of course would not discuss who and wheer they got the tickets from.
Thus, any news would be great if anyone else has any info.
Total Posts: 1162 | Posted: 13/05/2008 10:01 AM
Pablo B
Regular
I am finally in communication directly with Qatar FA and its painful trying to get info etc but will post anything as it comes to hand
Iraq game sounds like it won't a problem as its on "neutral" ground and demand will not be so high from home fans
yep, reckon having someone in Dubai or Doha on the ground would be best way to secure things, but who?
we have some guys organising pregame drinks at Aussie legends bar at Rydges hotel and possibly coaches to ground so maybe they can sort something for Dubai
Total Posts: 1797 | Posted: 13/05/2008 7:41 PM
cbead
Regular
The whole 'fagatics getting tickets' scenario, when FFA tell me they have no info on tickets, has riled me up a bit... I have rewritten to them and CCed to Ben Buckley..
"Dear FFA, As per my previous correspondence I am growing even more concerned, being only 3 weeks out from leaving Australia and still having no official word on the availability of tickets for the upcoming WCQ matches in Dubai and Doha. In your reply you have stated that "Despite attempts we have not received any information", but surely there must be information available now as I have confirmed that an Ausralian tour company, The Fanatics, are selling packages with tickets for these games. I have no intention of paying the inflated Fanatics prices for their packages just to get tickets, as I have already booked accommodation and scheduled our itinerary. It would most distressing to believe the FFA are implicitly trying to force the most dedicated Socceroo supporters (you would have to admit, the people who travel to the Middle East for these games must be reasonably dedicated) to take up the Fanatics package. If this is not the case (and I truly hope not), then if a private company can access tickets, surely a national federation playing in the fixture should be able to access tickets for the handful of its supporters who will be attending. As I have stated earlier this situation is becoming concerning now, as it is only 3 weeks before we leave on our Middle Eastern trip to support our beloved Socceroos. I really hope you can shed some light very soon on the availability for tickets for these WCQ's
Yours in football,....."
AOTFC: p7 w4 d0 l3 f24 a18 12 points
Total Posts: 492 | Posted: 14/05/2008 12:19 AM
cbead
Regular
The reason I CCed it to Ben Buckley is last year Jetstar lost my baggage for a day and a half, travelling from Cairns to Melbourne in winter. I had to buy warm clothes, toiletries, etc (I kept all receipts) and they offered me about 1/10 of the cost as compensation.
After several phone calls and emails, I got hold of Alan Joyce's email address (CEO) and put him as a CC in my last couple of emails... in the end I got compensated and got a $100 travel voucher.
AOTFC: p7 w4 d0 l3 f24 a18 12 points
Total Posts: 492 | Posted: 14/05/2008 12:27 AM
Oz_Scouser76
Regular
Good work on the CC in. I was looking at the Qatar FA site and there is a picture of some tickets saying 21,000 are left out of 48,000 with arabic writing. Do we have anyone in the GGA that understands arabic and could tell us what it means.
As well agree 100%, if the fanatics have already organised tickets on the ground, why on earth hasn't the FFA pulled their finger out and done something.
As I didnt get ont he China tour, what was the situation there? When did the tickets come out for that and was that through the FFA?
I was also given a phone number yesterday of a guy in the Qatar FA to get some info on these tickets. Cbead, whats your email addy so I can email this through to you.
EDIT: as well...Pablo...if you want the number just drop us a line
Total Posts: 1162 | Posted: 14/05/2008 9:47 AM
WazzaLeeds
Regular
Has anyone actually purchased tickets from the Qatari FA? It would be interesting to know how the Fanatics got their hands on the tickets...
United - 0 Leeds - 1
Total Posts: 356 | Posted: 14/05/2008 9:58 AM
Oz_Scouser76
Regular
I called up the fanatics yesterday and asked them how they go tthe tickets and they said that they have someone on the ground in the Middle East who did it for them. Of course they would not tell me how I could do it as they want to keep the $'s and info to themselves (which as a business they have the right to do so).
hkalthani@qfa.com.qa
As well, this is the email addy of the President of the Qatar FA. Cbead idea of CC'ing in people may help with this as well.
Total Posts: 1162 | Posted: 14/05/2008 10:21 AM
Pablo B
Regular
I spoke to someone at the Qatar FA last night, and following up today with formal request via email, so will post any response
while the Fanatics have the right to negotiate their own allocation of tics directly, I agree it once again doesn't reflect well on FFA leaving independent travelling fans in the lurch - good that pressure is being applied in writing to FFA and their CEO - need to be kept up, indeed ramped up
A week or so ago, I put in a submission with proposal and options to FFA to help avoid this sort of thing in the future (i.e. for next phase of qualifiers from Sep) and copy of this has gone to one of GGARMY board members - a longer term arrangement will need planning etc
but for these two away games in June, we once again are just going to have to do the best we can using personal commitment/energy and once we have some sort of arragement or reliable advice and knowledge about securing tics then post it and spread the word for all indepedent travelling fans to benefit from
Total Posts: 1797 | Posted: 14/05/2008 10:26 AM
Muz
Moderator
Quote from WazzaLeeds: Has anyone actually purchased tickets from the Qatari FA? It would be interesting to know how the Fanatics got their hands on the tickets...
The Fanatics just sent their email out about the Middle East Tour.
This is the blurb about tickets. "Match Tickets Match Tickets are included in all our Middle East packages. The exact location of our seating is not known yet however it will be with other Australian football fans. We will continue to request premium seating & we will update this site as further information comes to hand."
I very much doubt they have tickets(this is backed up when they don't even know where they are located), as I have thought all along they are just knowing they will at least get enough tickets for the supporters travelling on their tour.
The FFA know **** all about tickets, so this means the same thing for the Fanatics.
GGARMY: BEYOND THE NORMAL
Antifa Hooligans
Total Posts: 16608 | Posted: 14/05/2008 10:38 AM
Oz_Scouser76
Regular
looking at the size of the Stadium, its very small in comparison to the stadium where they deld the Asian Games (IE it holds well over 50,000 people.) It looks to be around the same size as what QPR is. Nice and intimate but I wonder how many tickets will be allocated to the Aussie fans?
Total Posts: 1162 | Posted: 14/05/2008 11:05 AM
Pablo B
Regular
Quote from Oz_Scouser76: I called up the fanatics yesterday and asked them how they go tthe tickets and they said that they have someone on the ground in the Middle East who did it for them. Of course they would not tell me how I could do it as they want to keep the $'s and info to themselves (which as a business they have the right to do so).
hkalthani@qfa.com.qa
As well, this is the email addy of the President of the Qatar FA. Cbead idea of CC'ing in people may help with this as well.
bombarding this email address might backfire - need to give staff in Qatar FA the chance to first respond with arrangements, and we'll maybe get this by beginning of next week
EDIT: UPDATE: a formal request for confirmation of ticketing allocation and arrangements for away fans (that's us!) went to my contact in Qatar FA a short time ago - will give them two days to respond and then follow up with another phone call on Friday arvo.
(a copy of this request also has gone to FFA management)
Total Posts: 1797 | Posted: 14/05/2008 11:59 AM
mike
Regular
I just called them but fucked up the time difference- so I left a message telling them to let me know what the situation is- Ill give em another call a bit later and see what I can get out of them!
If we keep hassling maybe they will the job that they are paid to do.
It seems the administration of football in oz is no better organised than it has ever been in the past
Against Modern Football/ Contra Futebol Moderno / No al Calcio Moderno / No al Futbol Moderno/ /Gegen den modernen Fußball!
Total Posts: 1197 | Posted: 14/05/2008 7:43 PM
Pablo B
Regular
FURTHER UPDATE:
Earlier this evening I spoke at length with the Qatar FA official who is handling the ticketing, and he has asked for a little more patience as they are very busy finalising the last week of the Qatari national club league season - we have agreed to speak again on 20 May when he hopes to have more news about ticketing for the 14th June match.
He disputes claims that thousands of tics have already been sold, and it sounds like anything the Fanatics are so far saying about securing tics is off the mark. He also mentioned liaison with the Embassy (assume its either in UAE or Saudi, as Oz don't have one in Qatar I've read), so I'm going to send off an email there too.
Until at least the middle of next week, I would urge fans not to direct frustrations or enquiries to that email address posted before (i.e. Qatar FA President) - we don't want to get their backs against the wall and let's see if some diplomacy and dialogue gets us somewhere first - they have only just been properly engaged and I think need a bit of time to get organised. In the meantime, the pressure can be still be kept on the FFA by email etc
Will keep all on this Forum posted if anything more happens soon - at least we still have a month to sort something out.
Re the Iraq game it would be good if locally based Aussies (in Dubai) could help find out about ticketing arrangements and advise travelling fans -think that direct contact with the stadium management would be best and/or UAE FA.
Total Posts: 1797 | Posted: 14/05/2008 8:00 PM
mike
Regular
the Qatari FA are not the people we should be frustrated with its the FFA. Its almost as if they dont want supporters at the games, instead of making it hard for people to get information they should be promoting the games (or maybe they are not interested in promoting these games as they will not make money out of them)
Its not like it is a very difficult request all it would take would be for the head of ticketing at the FFA to give a call to the Iraqi and Qatari FAs or to give a call to the AFC
Against Modern Football/ Contra Futebol Moderno / No al Calcio Moderno / No al Futbol Moderno/ /Gegen den modernen Fußball!
Total Posts: 1197 | Posted: 14/05/2008 8:45 PM
cbead
Regular
And my reply from FFA is as follows...
"Dear Chris, As mentioned previously, FFA do not have control over ticketing in other countries. If we are able to attain information we will post this to our website immediately for public access, however for the time being we have not received such details. If you wish to contact Fanatics to see if they have any ticketing details please do so. Once again, FFA apologize for any inconvenience. Kind regards, Football Federation Australia"
So it seems our federation is washing it's hands of this little inconvenience.
I have emailed the Qatar FA and have been told that tickets are not pre-sold for the game, that there is an away section and that the game is most likely not to be held at the Aspire (national) stadium, but at a smaller stadium.
I have joined a Qatar forum www.iloveqatar.net and have recieved advice from the locals to get to the ground early to ensure you get tickets (assuming we dont get access to tickets beforehand)... they state that usually the away section is never filled with away supporters, so nearer to game time, they sell the remaining tickets to Qatari's. Tickets are 15 Q/Riyal (about $4)... that was the price of the Qatar vs Iraq game.
