Asian Cup Final disappointment
I purchased a ticket for the final of the Asian Cup as soon as they went on sale. For me it didn’t matter who was playing, it was going to be an important game and I wanted to be part of it. When Australia made the final that was simply a bonus for me, as an Australian.
Last night I turned up at the stadium at 5:30pm with my wife and son. This had been made more difficult by all of the car parks around the ground having been closed and, therefore, the traffic being chaotic, but at least we were there. As we were about to enter through the gate another spectator asked if he could take my photograph. My wife and son went through, while I obliged. When I then went to enter the gate I was told I could not enter. I protested that my wife and son had just entered and were waiting for me inside but to no avail. I was told to walk to a different gate.
When I arrived at the next gate (still before the game had begun) I found that it was closed and thousands of people were waiting outside waving tickets but unable to enter the ground. I circled the entire ground but was unable to obtain entry. There were thousands of spectators, holding valid tickets, locked out of the ground. While they did not get violent, there were obviously some very angry people. Many had travelled from overseas specifically to attend the game, they had tickets and they were not allowed to enter.
Is anything going to be done about this? Probably not! Qatar wants to maintain the image that it held a marvelous Asian Cup in order to support the proposition that it deserves to host the World Cup in 2022, despite all the criticism that attended its awarding.
As someone who experienced an event last night that was shambolic and completely disorganized, I can only hope that Qatar uses the next 11 years wisely.
For those who want to know how and where they can get a refund for their unused AFC final match tickets, go to this post http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1611439
Below is the correspondence between AFC & I:
*******************************************************
From: Rien
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 13:05 AM
To: tickets/-a-t-/asiancup2011.com.qa
Subject: RE: Refund Required due to not being allowed to enter Khalif Stadium for AFC Final
Dear Sir / Madam,
Thank you for your reply.
I appreciate AFC/QLOC joint apology to the fans and the offer to refund money.
However, kindly note that the gates were closed much earlier than 18.05.
My wife and sons reached the stadium at 17.15 and I reached the stadium at 17.45 by then tall barricades were already in place to stop fans from entering the stadium. Although I agree that the gates were closed due to "security reason" are partly correct, the real reason for security concern is due to the free entrance allowed to thousands of people to fill the stadium, thus resulting in thousands of paid fans being turned away.
So, the statement that gates are closed at 18.05 is incorrect.
Therefore, an amendment to your press release, to reflect the actual cause of "security concern" as well as accurate time of the gates closure, would be much apprecited.
Thanks & regards
Rien
-------------------------------------------------
From: AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011Tickets [mailto:Tickets/-a-t-/asiancup2011.com.qa]
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 10:15 AM
To: Rien
Subject: RE: Refund Required due to not being allowed to enter Khalif Stadium for AFC Final
Dear Asian Cup Spectator,
In continuation to joint AFC/QLOC Daily Media Briefing held on 30 January 2011 at Main Media Centre, the QLOC would like once again to offer our apology for the fans that were not able to enter the Final Match, despite the fact that they had valid ticketing in their hands, due to the security concern which led to the closing of gates at 18:05.
Once again, we apologize to these fans, and have decided in conjunction with the AFC to refund all ticket-holders who have been denied access to the venue due to Security Closure of Gates.
Please see the detailed process at tickets.afcasiancup.com for applying for refunds and – as always – please do not hesitate to contact the QLOC at tickets/-a-t-/asiancup2011.com.qa for any further inquiries you may have.
Kindly be informed that the submission of the Refund Application Form will be from the 3rd-28th of February 2011.
Regards,
The Ticketing Department
Local Organizing Committee
AFC Asian Cup - Qatar 2011 TM
E tickets/-a-t-/asiancup2011.com.qa
W www.afcasiancup.com
----------------------------------------------------
From: Rien
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 11:53 AM
To: AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011Tickets
Subject: Refund Required due to not being allowed to enter Khalif Stadium for AFC Final
Dear Sir / Madam,
It is with disappointment I write to you about the shameful behavior and treatment I met with (along with at least 10000 other fans) at Khalifa Stadium, Doha-Qatar for yesterday’s Australia vs Japan AFC final match.
Despite having valid, four (4), tickets which I booked over two months ago, my family & I could not enter the stadium.
When we reached the stadium at 5.15pm, we were told by policemen that we cannot go in as the stadium is full.
We waited till 7.15pm to get into the stadium, only to disappointed and pushed away by baton wielding policemen … so we returned home extremely disappointed.
This is disgraceful and shameful treatment of fans by a reputed football association.
In view of the above I request AFC to kindly refund the money I paid for the tickets.
Please find attached copies of the tickets I purchased from AFC booth in Villagio Mall on 16 November 2011
Regards
Rien
???
Cheer up guys. We will give you New Sponsorship System this February.
I hope you kept your tickets. Post photos or scans of them on the Facebook group: "AFC Bump Off".
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_125702327499493
the same experience we've encountered yesterday, our office bought 60 tickets and gave to all employee but yesterday they cannot allow as to go inside, to watch the game. its ridiculous, is this the way they organized this very important game, how about the up coming 2022 world cup football games. they are mentally retarded, hope this will not happen again. I feel sorry for the Australian that came here in qatar to watch this event.
regards,
kid
Anyone with any comments should go to Al Jazeera and post in comments section. The media already know the bad feeling on this but as ever and as seen in todays Gulf Times they dont investigate they just accept any load of rubbish that is given to them at a press conference and report this rather than do what their title is and actually do some journalism and ask some real questions.
I am hoping at leat Al Jazeera may be interested in doing some proper journalistic works as you can forget about any of the newspapers here.
http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/football/2011/01/2011130111938713306.html#
AFC organizing committee sucks big time ... shame on you organizers.
All those who paid for their tickets actually funded the people who entered the stadium for free ... because Zakreet, Al-Khor, Mesaieed & the industrial area got 21 buses each to pick-up labourers, offering them free snacks and softdrinks (some say even QR.30 as pocket money) to fill up the stadium. ... so all of us who paid for our tickets ended up funding the labourers.
I guess we did some charity work yesterday.
Jokes apart, they should have allowed the ticket holders to enter the stadium first and then fill up the empty seats with labourers or whoever they please.
I've already written to AFC, yesterday night, but no response yet.
Qatar dont have much ppl to manage it....its money play
He He - Big Joke
Hi, This is my first post in QL
I can't stop my anger of yesterday's indecency from Asian Cup organizing committee towards us.
We went there with tickets at 5.30 and the security stopped us at every gate. There were thousands of men and women with valid ticket strained outside the stadium. \
There was a free entry between 2.30pm and 3.30pm to the grounds. I heard at that time lot of peoples (some was taken by bus to fill the galleries) without ticket entered the stadium and It became houseful at that time. It was told that authority was afraid of an empty gallery for the final match.
Im one of the thousand's people that has been denied to enter the stadium with a valid ticket (bought few weeks ago),went there at 4:00 PM stuck at the traffic, arrived there at 5:OO PM without any explanation why they didnt let us in, and decided to leave after been bump and touched at the back.....:-( and few meters outside the crowd while heading towards the parking lot the "very polite police man with guns" pushed us and said "yallah ro" (you go).... very dissapointing experience and they said "Expect Amazing??"- very sad....
Sorry Mate to hear about your ordeal. It was a complete and utter mess last night. They told us to expect amazing.
It was fooking Amazing, just fooking Amazing. A few of my Aussie buddies that jumped over the fence got arrested.
i also pitty the vendors when the riot police started to confiscate their goods. poor guys :(
exceed expectations of what? to expect pathetic not amazing?
what's more ridiculous is that after the game, people who are inside were also not allowed to go out. we were locked out, and after 4hours they there are locked inside like prisoners. many climbed fences just to get out. in desperation of some who has outgoing flights, they broke one side of the fence.
Well the AFC President did say that the organisation and conduct would "exceed expectations".
The women, children and every other fan who got pushed, shoved and some even crushed against the barriers would not have expected such a grand welcome.
better rise the issue to the foot ball federation
what happened last night was completely ridiculous! we paid for our tickets only to be closed down and what's worst, we were shepherded away from the gate and the fence by a Police riding in horses like beggars and squatters.
is this how Qatar will handle the FIFA WORLD CUP 2022???
Well Said nachu3
what chaos! good thing i did not buy tickets for it. but even though i was watching the game on tv, i could not help but noticed how bored/tired/irritated the players were during the closing ceremony. imagine, standing for an hour or so after almost 2 hours of playing? and all because a parade of princes and officials are announced, walk towards the podium,etc,etc. it was very boring and very anti-climactic for the winner, Japan. my bf who is visiting from a neighboring country commented on the total lack of excitement and celebration. He can't help but noticed how different it is from the European finals.
We are invited the view the Final match by collecting our hard earn Money, and not allowed to see the match for reason "gates closed".
We were treated like beggars, by Qatar police team with Dogs and Horses.
Poor Animals do not know that it is used to kickoff innocent money loosers.
Good Organisers, Good Government, Good Country conducted Asia cup to earn money and loose fans & country reputation.
Thanks for above treatment and good support from Asia cup organisers.
Let same organisers conduct FIFA 2022 to learn lesson form test Asia cup and some more cups to do better or worse than above.
Loooooooong Lifeeeee JAPAAAAAAAAAAN ,,,,
@Glecs: Fifa World cup 2012? you mean 2022?
I also went to the stadium with my family of 4 but denied entry. it was total nasty surprise for our family.
i dont understand how ticket holders denied entry. how stadium full without ticket holders. Organiser must come forward and answer all those questions.
i dont know how they will manage 2022 worldcup.
I was also among thousands ( at least 8 to 10 thousands)who didn’t allowed o enter the stadium even everyone has tickets they said stadium is full. I wonder how???????
I think me all must complain Asian Football Confederation about the incident and ask for ticket refund or at least they should give pressure to Qatar Foot Ball Authorities.
please send Messages for the same on the following link to Asian Football Confederation.
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1594089
We all need to highlight the same to Asian Football Confederation that what had happen to Foot Fans in Qatar and ask for refund.
Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1594089#ixzz1CVLcoIrN
shame on them....i to had the ticket but they dont allow me to go inside.,,i just was late becoz of this damn traffic ....wat is thee sense i pay 100qr for this stupid ..event...really shame on them....
any specific slaves ?
A lot of slaves will respond now saying you were late ! It looks like there was a ticket scam or the officials were expecting less crowds, so they allowed people to enter free during the early stages. I had valid tickets and was turned away at every gate. It was a kind official who allowed me in finally but no one was observing seat numbers. Even though the matches were a success, spectator management was a total failure.