Fans without valid tickets will be arrested if they approach FNB Stadium for Saturday’s sold-out Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, StadiumManagement SA (SMSA) has warned.
The Betway Premiership match, which starts at 3.30pm, will be played under increased security after sports minister Gayton McKenzie said SMSA officials would be held accountable for supporters’ safety.
SMSA director Bertie Grobbelaar said additional police officers would be deployed and urged supporters not to travel to the venue unless they had tickets.
“No valid, scannable ticket, no entry,” he said.
“All tickets must be accessed via the MyTicket mobile application, MyTicket website or mobile wallet. All spectators will be processed through a two-layer access control system before entry into FNB Stadium is granted.
“The solution is to get spectators who don’t have tickets away from the stadium.
“Many police officers will be deployed compared to previous derbies, and those fans who are caught without tickets will be arrested.
“A match ticket alone will not allow a private vehicle through the road closures.”
Grobbelaar previously acknowledged that at least 15,000 more people entered FNB Stadium than should have during February’s Soweto derby.
Two-stage ticket checks
Supporters will first undergo a visual ticket inspection at the venue exclusion zone. Only those able to show visible evidence of ticket access will be allowed to continue into the stadium precinct.
“That layer is intended to filter spectators at the earliest possible point, identify persons without visible proof of ticket access and reduce pressure deeper into the precinct,” Grobbelaar said.
Fans will then move to designated scanning areas, where their tickets will be electronically checked and validated.
“Layer two is the validation scanning area where the spectators will then proceed to the designated validation scanning areas, where tickets will be electronically scanned and validated. At this stage, ticket validity is confirmed and scanning issues are identified early. Spectators experiencing issues will be directed to the nearest verification station.”
Road closures will also restrict access for private vehicles. Grobbelaar said only vehicles covered by parking, public transport, resident or authorised-access arrangements would be permitted through.
“General vehicle access will be prohibited, with entry permitted only under the parking, public transport, resident and authorised-access arrangements set out in this advisory,” he said.
“The purpose is to reduce private vehicle numbers and reduce the congestion experienced at previous derbies, when vehicles without parking arrangements placed additional pressure on access roads, pedestrian movement and emergency routes.”
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Xolani Fihla encouraged supporters to use park-and-ride services.
“With other events, spectators prefer using park-and-ride public transport options, just not football fans. As we saw in the last Springboks game, over 42,000 spectators used the park-and-ride buses.”
