John Comitis, manager of South African Premier Soccer League club Cape Town City, has hit out at the management of the team’s Cape Town Stadium after fans were denied entry to a recent home match with Bidvest Wilts.
According to Sport24, supporters are believed to have encountered issues when purchasing tickets at pre-allocated retail outlets, with the club informing fans via social media that they could in fact buy tickets at the stadium.
However, when supporters arrived at the venue, they were informed by security that this was not the case and were turned away from the stadium, meaning that they missed City’s 1-0 MTN8 semi-final win against Bidvest Wilts.
Comitis has now moved to openly criticise management at the stadium, saying on the club’s official Facebook page that he could move the team to a new home.
“We have worked around the clock to bring big time football to the city with Cape Town City and 20 years later football is treated with the same stick as always,” Comitis said.
“I went into the VOC to try and persuade the police and ticketing security to allow for at least 800 more sales. The stadium was empty, the final figure was 3, 800 but we had budgeted for 5,000.
“But, my plea fell on deaf ears. There was zero tolerance, zero co-operation, it seemed they were more excited to be dealing with the possible trouble-makers that were stuck outside.
“After a thorough investigation, we learnt that security personnel on duty at Cape Town Stadium were within legislation to handle the extra 800 spectators. WHAT A DISGRACE! I want to move our upcoming Absa Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs, to Newlands.
“This treatment to the Cape Town City fans was unacceptable. I can only apologise to our loyal fans. I was gutted for them.”
However, Stuart Diamond, the City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for assets and facilities management, has since hit back at Comitis, saying that stadium management was bound by legislation not to sell more tickets than the 5‚018 that had already been printed and sold.
According to Times Live, Diamond said: “In the case of Sunday;s game‚ the prescribed value was 5‚000‚ the total number of ticket sales was 5‚018. Those figures go to the police’s venue operations centre.
“Legally‚ from a safety and compliance point of view‚ they were not allowed to sell any more tickets.”
Image: Maryland Pride
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