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Wigan tickets 'lost in the post' | Wigan tickets 'lost in the post' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
About 100 tickets for Wigan Athletic's Premier League clash with Manchester United have gone missing and are thought to have been stolen. | About 100 tickets for Wigan Athletic's Premier League clash with Manchester United have gone missing and are thought to have been stolen. |
Disgruntled Wigan fans turned up for the match which kicked at 1500 BST, but were refused entry despite having proof of purchase. | |
Wigan Athletic said about 70 envelopes were sent out earlier this week by TNT special delivery. | Wigan Athletic said about 70 envelopes were sent out earlier this week by TNT special delivery. |
They said the tickets could not be duplicated for safety reasons. | |
Wigan Athletic said in a statement: "We cannot issue duplicate tickets because it opens the club to fraud. | Wigan Athletic said in a statement: "We cannot issue duplicate tickets because it opens the club to fraud. |
"The club is carrying out a full investigation. It doesn't want to let the fans down. TNT says it is also carrying out its own investigation. | "The club is carrying out a full investigation. It doesn't want to let the fans down. TNT says it is also carrying out its own investigation. |
"The club can only apologise and promise the fans that we will be looking into the reasons as to why this has happened." | |
'Desperate' situation | |
The statement added: "The club is currently contacting the supporters to explain the situation but regrets that this happened and really does sympathise, but has done everything possible to avoid this situation occurring." | |
TNT were unavailable for comment. | TNT were unavailable for comment. |
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) doubled the number of officers they usually provide on match days as they were expecting a larger crowd. | |
There were fears ticketless United fans could travel to the match ready to celebrate if they win the league title. | There were fears ticketless United fans could travel to the match ready to celebrate if they win the league title. |
Outside the stadium, the Wigan fans without tickets said the situation was "desperate". | Outside the stadium, the Wigan fans without tickets said the situation was "desperate". |
One said: "We've come to the ground, the ticket office said (the tickets) had been sent out but they haven't turned up." | One said: "We've come to the ground, the ticket office said (the tickets) had been sent out but they haven't turned up." |