LONDON, Oct 10: Fans will be able to sell unwanted tickets online during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as FIFA tries to ensure that as many seats as possible are filled at stadiums.

The London Olympics and Euro 2012 were both blighted by rows of empty seats at supposedly sold-out venues, frustrating fans and detracting from the spectacle for television audiences.

Sponsors will also be asked to give details of who is using their tickets, FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil said on Wednesday, adding that it was impossible to eradicate “no shows” from ticket holders.

“What we expect from the sponsors is to be fair and open with us on who is coming and who is not coming, which tickets they will use and which tickets they will not use in advance of the game so that we can reallocate those tickets,” Weil told reporters at the Leaders in Football conference.

“The no-show is a bigger concern than the commercial side. Even with a resale platform, you will have people just not coming,” Weil added.—Reuters