Singapore played their group stage matches at the 55,000-seat Singapore National Stadium. However, due to four scheduled music events from Dec. 21 to 29, the semifinal was moved to the smaller Jalan Besar Stadium, which has a capacity of just 6,000.
The 2024 ASEAN Cup regulations require the host team to provide 1,250 tickets to tournament organizers and main sponsors. Another 400 tickets are reserved for players and coaching staff from both teams. After other mandatory allocations, only about 4,000 tickets were available for public sale of this game.
At least 8% of these tickets are went to the tournament’s television rights holders, while another 8% are set aside for away fans. On Dec. 21, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced plans to sell approximately 300 tickets directly to Vietnamese fans at Jalan Besar Stadium on match day. However, on Tuesday, FAS canceled this plan and allocated the tickets through the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) instead.
The Singapore Football Federation posts a notice stating that there were no more tickets for sale to away fans at the Jalan Besar Stadium counter. Photo by Read/Hieu Luong |
VFF was surprised by this new plan.
Previously, they only registered 70 tickets for two Vietnamese fan clubs, assuming the remaining tickets would be sold directly in Singapore. As a result, Vietnamese fans are now likely limited to these 70 tickets.
FAS explained that its decision based on the tournament’s regulations, which require the host team to confirm away ticket numbers 48 hours before each match starting from the semifinals.
Nguyen Van Linh, a 34-year-old Vietnamese working in Singapore, expressed frustration at the last-minute change.
“We don’t know how to get into the stadium to support the team,” Linh told Read on Wednesday. “Buying tickets on the black market is too expensive and we also can’t enter the stadium because Singapore’s regulations are very strict.”
Regulations said that away fans must sit in designated areas. If they are found in home fans sections, they may be asked to leave the stadium. Additionally, Vietnamese fans entering the stadium with invitations are required to wear neutral clothing and avoid displaying Vietnamese symbols to ensure safety in case of security incidents.
The limited ticket supply has also created high demand among Singaporean fans. Many queued at Jalan Besar Stadium on Dec. 22, with some even arrived the night before. The Straits Times likened the scene to Singapore football’s golden age from the 1970s to 1990s and the 2000s.
This issue might have been avoided if the match had been held at the National Stadium. Singapore’s group stage matches against Cambodia and Thailand attracted 12,391 and 22,611 spectators respectively, less than half the venue’s capacity. The situation has sparked debate among Singaporean fans about the need for a medium-sized stadium to reduce reliance on the National Stadium for big events.
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