JUST DESERTED

Tournament chief Infantino gets empty seats he deserved after fans snub high-price tickets

- BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG in Kansas City, US

FIFA faced the humiliating sight of rows of empty seats at the second game of the World Cup as fans blamed ticket prices. President Gianni Infantino was in the crowd for South Korea's 2-1 victory over Czechia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico.

TV cameras captured row upon row of empty seats, images that were beamed to football fans around the world.

To make it worse, the attendance was announced as 44,985, just 679 short of the 45,664 capacity, even though there were empty seats throughout the stadium, not just in the most expensive sections.

Fifa has been criticised for its ‐varying pricing‐ policy that has led to prices rocketing.

Garford Beck, 64, of London, who is following England in the US, said the empty seats did not surprise him.

He said: ‐I think there will be more to come and Fifa is getting what it deserves.