Dortmund-Real game tickets cause brawls

DORTMUND - Agence France-Presse

Supporters of Borussia Dortmund queue for tickets at a ticket agency of Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund April 16, 2013 ahead of the Real game. REUTERS photo

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted his club underestimated ticket demands for its Champions League home semifinal against Real Madrid after fights broke out today.

Dortmund hosts Real at its Signal Iduna Park stadium on April 24, but there was chaos when tickets finally went on sale at 9 a.m. yesterday, half an hour later than planned, after some fans had queued since Sunday evening.
Brawls broke out amongst supporters waiting in queues at separate locations in Dortmund city centre as the tickets available were snapped up within an hour of going on sale, reported SID, an AFP subsidiary.

Police had organized the lines from midnight Monday after organised gangs had tried to aggressively jump in, but officers reported fights breaking out in the early hours of yesterday morning.

“We had honestly underestimated this incredible stampede, it’s our fault.We will learn our lessons from this and not offer a free-for-all ticket sale in future,” admitted Watzke.

Watzke said Dortmund will reorganise their advance ticket sales in future so organised gangs, operating on the black market.