FAI defends ticketing policy

THE FAI last night defended the ticket bundling policy for the Republic of Ireland’s final World Cup qualifiers.

Irish fans planning to attend the glamour clash with world champions Italy at Croke Park on October 10 will be forced to purchase tickets for the Montenegro game four days later too.

Despite the economic downturn, FAI bosses are committed to the policy for the crucial Group Eight games at GAA headquarters. Spokesman Peter Sherrard insisted: “There has been no reaction to this announcement. There is nothing unusual with this move for these two games. It has been quite regular for us to bundle tickets for big matches and it has proven very successful in the past. And we expect that to be the case again.