'Would have meant the world': Fans disappointed as Singapore-Thailand football tickets sell out instantly, scalpers resell at huge mark-ups

The highly anticipated ASEAN football championship semi-final between Singapore and Thailand has left many fans disheartened, with tickets selling out in mere minutes. For 19-year-old Goh Zun Rey, attending the match with his younger cousins, who would have experienced live football for the first time, was a dream that quickly turned into disappointment.

“

It would have meant the world. I'm bringing my three younger cousins, and it would have been their first taste of watching football live.

Tickets went on sale exclusively online via Tickethotline at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. However, fans reported joining the virtual queue before sales began, only to find tickets unavailable moments after accessing the main page. "It's just disheartening," said Mr. Goh, reflecting the frustration shared by many who were desperate to support the Lions.

“

You can see how desperate some fans are to get these tickets, and the fact that we weren't able to get these tickets, it's just disheartening.

The Football Association of Singapore confirmed the sell-out status less than two hours after sales opened. The first-leg match is scheduled for August 15 at the Jalan Besar Stadium, which has a capacity of 6,000 seats. The larger National Stadium is unavailable due to its use for the National Day parade preparations.

“

I waited until lunchtime and still could not get the tickets. I'm definitely very disappointed.

Adding to the fans' dismay, online marketplaces like Carousell saw numerous listings for match tickets at exorbitant prices. Some Category 1 tickets, originally priced at S$49 (US$38), were being resold for as much as S$1,500 each. This stark contrast between retail and resale prices has led to widespread criticism, with fans like Mr. Goh lamenting the prevalence of scalping in online ticketing systems.

“

All you can do is just sigh. If you're doing online ticketing, that's bound to happen. That's why I prefer physical ticketing.