England players buy up 1,000 tickets for every World Cup match – 10% of our allocation

Supporters blast the move as ‘unfair’ as WAGs, relatives and pals are likely to make up around 10% of the total number of Three Lions’ supporters at each of their group games

The World Cup is set to be a family affair for England – after players bought up 1,000 tickets at each match for their loved ones.

Players’ WAGs, relatives and pals are likely to make up around 10% of the total number of Three Lions’ supporters at each of their group games. That will be the highest ‘family and friends’ percentage for any tournament.

Fans cried foul over the move and accused the stars of nabbing tickets that could have gone to supporters struggling to get them.

One said: “I can see why you’d want mum and dad to see you play in the World Cup but it sounds like they’ve invited the whole street as well. I know so many who haven’t got tickets. It seems very unfair. I guess it’s one way of making sure you won’t get booed.”

Cambridge United fan Dave Ryan, 55, a teacher, said: “I completely understand that England players and FA staff should have access to tickets for games so their family and friends can watch them play. But 1,000 tickets for every game?

“That’s just madness and not very fair. England fans are struggling to get tickets and so many are going to those with FA connections. There’s only 26 players in the squad so 1,000 tickets is an awful lot to go to family and friends.”

The ticket sale breakdown was revealed by police as they planned crowd control measures during the tournament which starts next month in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The UK can only send three crowd control spotters to the tournament – compared to 40 to Euro 24 in Germany – after the host US nation refused to foot the bill for more.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for football Mark Roiberts said: “So for the first game against Croatia in terms of numbers there are up to 1,000 friends and family with the FA.

“We’ve got 3,315 members of the England Supporters’ Travel Club. In terms of ticket sales our current understanding is that there are a total of 7,618 buying tickets online purporting to be England supporters.

“That breaks down as 4,169 from the UK, 2,800 from the States, 36 from Mexico, 209 from Canada and 401 from elsewhere.”

For England’s second match against Ghana there will be 3,553 official travel members, 10,171 others ‘plus 1,000 friends and family’.

At the Three Lions’ final group game against Panama in New York there will be 3,971 official members, 10,721 others ‘plus 1,000 friends and family’, the police chief added.

Wolves’ fan David Bamford, 63, said it was ‘good’ to see so much family support for the team. It’s a lot of tickets but it’s great so many have been bought. England players and staff are backing the lads. It’s good to see,” he said.

The official England party – which will include players, management, coaches, analysts, press officers, dieticians, masseuses and chefs – is believed to number up to 100.

The group has then been able to choose to purchase extra tickets.