THE FAI HAS expressed its disappointment with the Scottish FA over an issue regarding tickets for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier.

Ireland play Scotland at Celtic Park on 14 November and, with both teams starting the campaign impressively, there has been a huge demand for tickets.

Around 10,000 Irish supporters applied for the FAI’s allocation but the vast majority have been left disappointed and forced to explore other avenues such as tickets in the home section after failing to receive any of the 5% set aside to away fans.

Members of supporters’ club You Boys In Green released a statement this week in which they said they were “shocked and angered” by the fact that many regular travellers to away games had their applications rejected.

They added that it is not the first time they have expressed their concern over the methodology of the FAI’s ticket allocation.

Tonight, the association has responded with the following statement:

“The FAI received a minimum 5% ticket allocation from the SFA for the away match in Scotland equating to 3,209 tickets. Demand for these tickets is four times higher than the number available.

The Association regrets that the SFA has not increased this allocation to date. It is particularly disappointing that the Scottish FA is continuing to sell tickets on its website after they had told us that the match was sold out.

“Many of these tickets are now being taken up by Irish supporters out of desperation, a situation that could be resolved easily by providing adequate numbers of away tickets in a designated Irish section of the stadium.”

The FAI states that the 3,209 tickets they received were divvied up as follows:

• 1,700 to supporters’ clubs, season ticket holders, club Ireland members and known away supporters
• 700 to clubs and leagues
• 481 to Abbey Travel for supporters’ travel packages as per contract (15% of allocation) as official travel partner of the Association
• 128 to sponsors
• 200 tickets were divided between players, backroom team, FAI staff and team management

The statement also reveals that the FAI has sourced an additional 150 tickets from companies in Scotland for corporate tickets, priced at €160, which will be sold to Ireland supporters for €60.

“The FAI regrets any situation in which supporters remain without tickets,” it adds. “We continue to call on the SFA to provide adequate numbers of seats for Irish supporters, and in the meantime will strive to find remedies for ticketless supporters where possible.”