LONDON — FIFA has vowed to limit the number of empty seats to a "strict minimum" during games at the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014. This summer's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine and the London Olympics both struggled with empty seats at events that were meant to be sold out.
FIFA admit it is impossible to eradicate the problem completely but are confident they will have systems in place to avoid similar embarrassment in Brazil.
"Empty seats is always a huge topic," said FIFA's marketing director Thierry Weil, speaking at the Leaders in Football conference at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in London.