Free tickets will be distributed for the remaining group matches at the Confederations Cup to help fill the stadiums, Fifa said on Wednesday.
Fifa media chief said Nicolas Maingot said a share of the tickets will be made available for free in an attempt by the world governing body to fill stadiums.
Fifa is in touch with charitable organisations and local authorities on the distribution of tickets.
One exception will be the match between world champions Italy and Brazil in Pretoria on Sunday, which is nearly sold out.
None of the four matches so far have been sold out, although the average attendance of 33Â 170 is not much below the average of 37Â 694 at the tournament in Germany in 2005.
‘Embarrassment’
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Union urged South Africans to buy tickets.
”The low turnouts at some matches have been a serious embarrassment to the country and must be improved upon, if we are to demonstrate to the world our passion for soccer, and to remove any doubts about our commitment to the 2010 World Cup tournament,” said the labour federation.
The union’s call come after Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Monday criticised organisers for not doing enough to fill stadiums.
His comments followed the second match of the tournament of continental champions, featuring the world’s number one team Spain against New Zealand, being played in front of a half-empty stadium in Rustenburg.
”We were not happy with the number of spectators, we could not be happy as it was one of the opening matches and on a Sunday evening,” he said at a press conference on Monday.
Blatter held a meeting with organisers on Monday to address the issue. Fifa had previously said it was confident it would witness sell-out stadiums at an event.
There has been criticism of the lack of advertising of the Confederations Cup within the country, as well as dissatisfaction with the ticketing policy which is not suited to the pockets of South African soccer fans.
Special dispensation
The Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday urged people with disabilities to attend the matches.
The department encouraged people with disabilities to use a ”special dispensation” applicable to those who were unable to attend the games without the use of a wheelchair.
The price for tickets falling under this category was lower — starting at R70 — and included a complimentary ticket for an accompanying person.
”According to Fifa, the wheelchair positions will vary according to the layout of each stadium but they are generally situated along the length of the pitch.
”Also encouraging is that easy wheelchair access was one of the main requirements in the design of all the new stadiums in the country,” the department said in a statement.
Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya welcomed the effort by the organising committee to ensure that matches were accessible to people with disabilities.
”This tournament has to be a memorable event for all. I am glad that no one can be excluded from cheering his or her favourite team only on the basis of physical disability,” she said.
Egypt’s Mohamed Al Muhamadi has meanwhile been suspended for one match after being sent off against Brazil for handling the ball on the line. He will miss Thursday’s encounter with Italy in Johannesburg.
No decision has yet been taken on Ricardo Clark of the United States who was sent off against Italy for a foul on Gennaro Gattuso.
He faces a minimum one-match ban, and will definitely miss Thursday’s encounter with Brazil in Pretoria.
Protecting children
Meanwhile, the country was urged on Wednesday to address the demand for commercial sexual acts and to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation ahead of the Soccer World Cup.
The 2009 Trafficked in Persons Report released by the United States State Department indicated that the South African government ”made
significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking”, said a statement issued by the US embassy.
”This past year, the government has taken steps with the NGO community to enhance legal protection and other supports for victims of trafficking. The government opened prosecutions against 16 suspected trafficking offenders during the year,” the statement read.
”Foreign victims in South Africa, however, still face inadequate protection from the government. Labour trafficking does not receive as much government attention as does sex trafficking.”
The report recommended that the South African government pass and enact the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill and implement the Children’s Amendment Act of 2007. – AFP, Sapa