The FAI have released a statement warning fans not to buy any illicit tickets for next month's clash between Ireland and Portugal, after tickets were found to be selling for four times face value on touting sites.
Demand for the game was huge, and many fans were left disappointed as tickets sold out within minutes of going on sale.
Ireland v Portugal tickets on sale for despicable prices
Ireland's clash with the 2016 European champions sold out within minutes of going on sale on Tuesday morning and it was no real surprise to see tickets go so quickly.
Tickets for Ireland v Portugal went on general sale at 10am and they did not last very long! There's going to be 51,700 people at the Aviva to welcome Ronaldo and the boys. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/wrvJOLe1UN
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 26, 2021
For one thing, the fruits of Stephen Kenny's tough first year in charge are finally starting to show, and there is genuine excitement around this Irish team. This is the first time that the Aviva Stadium will be full for a game under Kenny, and there was a huge push from Irish fans to get behind their team.
As well as that, the blockbuster opposition only adds to the sense of occasion. Kenny's Ireland ran Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal close at the start of September, and hopes are high that a full Lansdowne Road could be just what the team needs to spur them on to a famous win.
But, sadly, it was no real surprise to see ticket touts out in force once again in the aftermath of the fast ticket sales.
Didn't manage to get tickets for Ireland V Portugal this morning as sold out too quickly. Got redirected to @viagogo to see scum selling tickets 5 times its price. Surely they can introduce a cap (Like TicketSwap) that doesn't allow touts to make a profit? Shambles @FAIreland pic.twitter.com/deIvjznuNi
— Seán Ryan (@seanryandesign) October 26, 2021
Fans reported tickets selling for upwards of €400 on Tuesday afternoon, as the depressing reality of modern sporting and entertainment events sunk in.
The FAI were quick to comment on the reports,
The FAI would like to thank all of those fans who have bought tickets for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 fixture against Portugal at the Aviva Stadium which is a sell-out.
We are aware however that tickets for the match are being offered at inflated prices online and we remind fans who purchase tickets from a third-party website or any unauthorised seller that they risk not receiving a ticket at all or being denied entry with an invalid ticket.
It's likely that many regulars at Irish games have missed out on tickets for the big game due to these behaviours. This is just another example of the ineffectiveness of anti-touting laws, and fans will be hopeful that this is the last straw before Irish regulators take a stand.
Indeed, new legislation against these kinds of actions was passed on July 31 - but it doesn't seem to have had any sort of effect on one of the biggest sporting events in Ireland this side of the pandemic's onset.
The Aviva Stadium will be full for the visit of Portugal, and rightly so - it's just a shame so many people will have to pay so far over the odds because of the cruel actions of touts.
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