Scotland fans frustrated as they wait for confirmation over World Cup tickets

Scotland fans are frustrated over World Cup ticket delays and resalers offering tickets for large profits.

Fans say the Scottish Football Association (SFA) told those hoping to travel to the US this summer they should have received an email on Thursday to find out if their applications for tickets were successful or not.

However, many fans as of Friday afternoon were still waiting to hear back from the SFA, leaving them worried they might miss out.

Iain Emerson, editor of the Tartan Army Magazine, which has been in publication for 20 years, said some fans will have no choice but to buy from expensive ticket resalers, accusing Fifa of treating fans with “contempt”, noting the federation had only made a small amount of tickets available to the Tartan Army.

Mr Emerson said: “The World Cup is fast approaching and I feel for the supporters who have been left in limbo and not knowing if they have secured tickets or not.

“Fans are making plans and are keen to know if they will be at the games or not, and if they don’t succeed in  getting these tickets they will likely have to miss out on the games or pay even more highly inflated prices.

“This whole tournament demonstrates the contempt that Fifa have towards the loyal fans.

“From such a small amount of official tickets being made available to the Tartan Army, to the outrageous pricing, it is definitely leaving a bad taste in the mouth of our supporters who have waited so long to be part of the biggest sporting tournament in the world.”

Entry tier tickets were around 60 dollars (around £45), and were allocated to supporters’ clubs and the SFA. They are not guaranteed, and higher tier tickets range from 180 dollars (£134) to 700 dollars (£523).

Some resalers have advertised tickets for upwards of £900, meaning some fans will spend far more if they mean to stop at nothing to see their team.

Others who cannot afford the costs are planning to head over to the US and meet together at designated fan zones to celebrate.

Scotland was allocated 3,889 tickets for the Morocco and Haiti matches, to be played at Boston Stadium, Massachusetts.

For their match against Brasil, Scotland has been given 3,736 tickets.

Mr Emerson said: “I know many supporters who are heading over and can’t afford the cost of tickets and are planning just to go to the fan zones which will still be a great experience for them. However, the team will miss out on the fantastic backing the Tartan Army can give them.

“They will be in the stadium however in much smaller numbers than usual.”

He added: “Fifa should take note of the words of the great Jock Stein and remember ‘football without the fans is nothing’.”

Logan Taylor, a retired lecturer, journalist, and life-long Scotland fan, said he has had an email from the Scotland Supporters’ Club (SSC) to say he was successful in his application for all three matches, but says he will not be fully convinced until he sees them confirmed in his inbox.

He said: “It’s a bit like being a wean on Xmas morning and being told that Santa had been – but your present was still in bloody Lapland as it couldn’t fit on the sleigh.

“Don’t worry though, he’ll be back in a couple of weeks and he’ll bring your present with him then.”

He added: “I just keep checking my emails every 10 minutes in case word comes through or the email has gone to the junk folder.

“It’s bad enough for me when I should be OK for SSC tickets, but it must be totally horrendous for guys who have spent a fortune booking travel and digs in the US… and might end up watching the games in a Boston boozer.

“It’s pretty galling to see tickets being punted on resale sites when folk who go to games whenever they can are left hanging on not knowing where they will be able to see the games.”

Mr Taylor previously faced such disappointment, having travelled to Bordeaux in France for Scotland versus Norway in 1998, when the country last qualified for the World Cup.

He said: “Having been in Bordeaux in 1998 for the Norway game, and watching it from a fan zone because I couldn’t get a ticket, I know how desperate folk will be to actually get in the grounds.”

A spokesperson for the SFA said: “The ticketing process and the contacting of supporters over their ballot results is a matter for tournament organisers, Fifa.”

Fifa was approached for comment.