FIFA 'can afford to reduce World Cup ticket prices'

RECORD-BREAKING

- By JAMIE GARDNER, PA

World Cup prize money demonstrates there is no need for FIFA to charge "extortionate" prices for tickets, a fans' chief has said.Tom Greatrex, the chair of the Football Supporters' Association, said FIFA risked "killing" what is special about its prized commercial asset if it does not act now on ticket prices.

FIFA confirmed yesterday that 727 million US dollars (£545m) has been set aside for competing nations, with the World Cup winners in line to receive 50 million US dollars (£37.5m). The total prize fund is up 50 per cent compared to the last finals in Qatar in 2022.

That announcement comes amid an ongoing row over ticket prices, with fan groups accusing FIFA of failing to go anywhere near far enough to price tickets to the most loyal supporters at a reasonable level.