Tickets yet to be sold for 'Messi match'

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Despite all the hype over Lionel Messi-led Argentina's FIFA international friendly against Venezuela, the response has not been up to the mark with many tickets yet to be sold.

In fact, it will be an embarrassment of sorts for the organisers if the 120,000 capacity stadium remains unfilled despite the fact Messi, who is in prime form for Barcelona, will lead a full strength Argentina side against Venezuela in an international FIFA fixture here on Friday.

Refusing to disclose the figures of ticket sales, the organisers Celebrity Management Group today confessed that response was not up to mark.

"We cannot say the exact figures but it's not what we had expected. It could have been better. Here, everybody wants to see the match free," executive director of CMG, Bhaswar Goswami told reporters.

Goswami said they were not giving any free tickets and even the sports minister of West Bengal, Madan Mitra had to buy the entry passes.

"Even the Sports Minister bought about 200 tickets for his Sports Council. The match is happening in a stadium owned by the government, yet the minister is buying tickets. Nobody is given free entry. You are most welcome, if you are ready to pay," he said.

Incidentally, Goswami himself had given figures of 42,000 ticket sales two days ago but it seemed going by the poor response he did not give the exact number.

In fact, 42,000 is a very small number for a stadium with a seating capacity of 120,000.