"Disabled" World Cup Fans Caught Jumping Out of Wheelchairs
19 October 2018 19:55 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Brazil - The free World Cup tickets handed out by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the disabled fans have continued to be misused. Some wheelchaired fans were spotted jumping out of their chair by the camera.
One of the 'disabled' fans was caught on the camera that belongs to Mariana Cesario during the Ecuador Vs France match at Maracana Stadium on Wednesday, June 25. The 'disabled' fan, dressed in black t-shirt and light brown trouser was seen leaving his wheelchair just like normal people. Few moments later, he came back and sat on the wheelchair. Cesario then uploaded the video to YouTube as a form of protest.
FIFA released a number of concession tickets intended for disabled fans, pensioners, students and even the obese just before the tournament started. But the scramble for tickets has led to many of these appearing on the black market.
"For me it's amazing to see that ticket touts are coming to the official hotel of Fifa, sitting in between Fifa (staff) and selling tickets without any problem," Fifa marketing director Thierry Weil said as quoted by Asia One.
Mirror reported that the police were investigating 22 pictures on CCTV showing supposedly wheelchair-bound fans standing up at the 66,000-seater Sao Paulo Arena where England played on Thursday, June 19.
ASIAN ONE | MIRROR | TRI SUHARMAN