Source: Daily_Mail
Michel Platini apologises for expensive Champions League final tickets at Wembley
Michel Platini has apologised to fans for the expensive price of Champions League final tickets at Wembley and said UEFA would now consider introducing a cheaper category for families for future finals.[LNB]The cheapest tickets on general sale for the final on May 28 cost ?150 plus a ?26 administration fee, and the cheapest package for one adult and one child is only available in category two seats costing ?338.[LNB]UEFA president Platini, in London for the handover of the Champions League trophy, said: 'It was a mistake, it was not good. But it is not easy to decide the price of the tickets in the Champions League final.[LNB] Sorry: UEFA president Michel Platini, who handed over the Champions League trophy at a ceremony at London's Guildhall alongside Mayor of London Boris Johnson and England boss Fabio Capello, apologised for expensive final tickets[LNB]'We have received 200,000 requests for 10,000 tickets and now on the black market these tickets are 10 times the price that we decided.[LNB]'Perhaps in the future we have to have another category for families that is less expensive. But if you put those on the black market how much will they cost?[LNB]'It was not a good communication and I apologise about that.'[LNB]The remaining semi-finalists in the competition include Manchester United, who won their first European Cup at Wembley in 1968, and who have to get past Schalke to make it to the final.Spanish opposition lie in wait with Barcelona facing Real Madrid in the other semi-final.[LNB]Platini said: 'I'm sure the final will bring emotions in a true football city and a true stadium of football - Wembley.'[LNB]Most of the leading figures in English football were at the Guildhall for the ceremony including FA chairman David Bernstein, the FA's director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and England manager Fabio Capello.[LNB] Over to you: Platini hands the Champions League trophy over to Boris Johnson ahead of next month's final at Wembley[LNB]Bernstein is a boyhood Manchester City fan but insisted it would be 'very special' for United to make it to the final.[LNB]He said: 'We are very hopeful that Manchester United continue to progress and represent England.[LNB]'Club football in this country continues to be as strong as ever and five of the last six finals have involved an English side.[LNB]'There's no denying that Sir Alex Ferguson's side face a tough task against Schalke but to have an English team in the final at Wembley would be something special.'[LNB]London mayor Boris Johnson received the trophy from holders Inter Milan and also appealed for fans to attend the women's Champions League final at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground on May 26.[LNB]Johnson said: 'That is equally important, with equal skill on show and equally remunerated players... no? Why not - I'm sure there must be some European law about that.'[LNB] UEFA stand by ticket pricing for Champions League finalFans' groups blast UEFA over ?176 tickets to Champions League finalFinal insult for fans as Cup prices for Wembley rocket to astonishing ?115 [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Trevor Brooking, Fabio Capello, Boris Johnson Places: Barcelona, London, United Kingdom
