Audio By Carbonatix
The football World Cup in South Africa will be played in front of fewer foreign fans than initially expected, says governing body Fifa.
Secretary-general Jerome Valcke said there were also too few flights to cater for demand, and also suggested some fans were concerned about safety.
Fifa says it expects less than 450,000 foreign fans - a target the body had hoped to meet with ease.
South Africans have snapped up most of the two million tickets sold so far.
The US makes up the largest contingent of foreign fans wanting tickets - with the UK next on the list.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in Johannesburg, says Fifa are clearly disappointed at the number of people planning to travel to the tournament.
Mr Valcke told a news conference: "It is true that the PMAs [local football associations] find it currently difficult to sell the tickets due to limited flights available.
"Therefore we are now working together with the airlines to create extra flights and packages to help the PMAs to sell their tickets."
Mr Valcke also said concerns about security in South Africa seemed to have put off some foreign fans.
He said criticism had been coming mainly from Germany and England.
Our correspondent says Mr Valcke was clearly angered by the criticism and described the comments as insane and completely wrong.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Photos: Vice President commissions 100 new Metro Mass Transit buses
6 minutes -
GNFS rescues seven trapped in crash at Peki-Tsiame
12 minutes -
GNFS rescues trapped driver after cargo truck overturns at Fante New Town
18 minutes -
Photos from JoyNews National Dialogue on youth and climate change
33 minutes -
Woman accused of threatening President Mahama granted GH¢1 million bail
41 minutes -
One dead, 4 injured in articulated truck collision at Assin Nsuta
50 minutes -
To Nationalise or Transform? Joy Business Hosts Roundtable on Ghana’s Extractive Future
54 minutes -
NACOC partners UPSA-RCC to train enumerators for baseline study on substance use among youth
1 hour -
Kay Codjoe Writes: The dangerous romance between inciteful extremism and “free speech”
1 hour -
From Ghana to Canada: The rising influence of Ghanaian scholars opening global doors for students
1 hour -
Gender Ministry backs Black Maidens ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers
1 hour -
Many are called, but hostel fees have chosen few
1 hour -
8 suspects arrested in killing of queen mother at Atebubu
2 hours -
RaĂşl Castro indictment threatens to ignite war between US and CubaÂ
2 hours -
2026 Africa Bitcoin Day marked in Accra
2 hours