Soweto derby fans without tickets face arrest under new FNB Stadium security plan

Supporters without valid tickets will face arrest 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 increased security and stricter access controls being introduced after sports minister Gayton McKenzie said SMSA officials would be held accountable for supporters’ safety.

SMSA director Bertie Grobbelaar said the measures followed overcrowding at February’s derby, when at least 15,000 more people entered the stadium than should have.

More police officers will be deployed for this weekend’s match, with the aim of ensuring it passes without incident, as happened during the recent Springboks v New Zealand Test match.

“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 spectators would first undergo a visual ticket inspection at the venue exclusion zone. Only those able to show visible proof of ticket access would be allowed to continue towards 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 ticket validation at designated scanning areas.

“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 those covered by 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 the restrictions were designed to reduce congestion caused by vehicles without parking arrangements, which had previously put pressure on access roads, pedestrian routes and emergency lanes.

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.”