Soweto derby: Fans without tickets face arrest as security tightened at FNB Stadium

Supporters 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 fixture kicks off at 3.30pm, with additional security measures introduced after sports minister Gayton McKenzie said SMSA officials would be held accountable if supporters’ safety was not guaranteed.

SMSA director Bertie Grobbelaar said the arrangements were designed to prevent a repeat of February’s derby, when at least 15,000 more people entered FNB Stadium than the venue should have accommodated.

More police officers will be deployed around the stadium, and supporters without tickets will be removed from the area or arrested.

“No valid, scannable ticket, no entry,” Grobbelaar 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.”

Two-stage ticket checks

Grobbelaar said supporters would first undergo a visual ticket inspection at the venue exclusion zone before being allowed to move further 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,” he said.

The second stage will involve electronic validation at designated scanning points.

“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.”

Vehicle access will also be restricted, with only cars covered by approved parking, public transport, resident or authorised-access arrangements permitted through the road closures.

“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,” Grobbelaar said.

He added that supporters without valid parking passes would not be able to drive beyond the closed roads.

The restrictions are intended to reduce the number of private vehicles and ease congestion on access roads, pedestrian routes and emergency lanes, which were placed under additional pressure during previous derbies.

Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Xolani Fihla urged supporters to use park-and-ride buses.

“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.”