All hope is not lost, however, because Singapore fans cancelling their trips have returned almost 2,000 tickets.

They go on sale at the stadium at 10am today.

Many Singapore fans decided not to travel to Thailand because of fears of reprisals following last Wednesday's controversial result.

Outraged football fanatics mobbed FAT headquarters inside Supachalasai National Stadium compound yesterday after tickets sold out in just a couple of hours.

They claimed scalpers had purchased blocks of tickets and were selling them at extortionate prices outside the stadium and nearby Mah Boonkrong Centre.

"The association should have predicted this and prevented it. We came here so early ... waiting for hours, only to find all the tickets gone. Purchases should have been limited for each buyer,'' said protest leader Wimon Thongruengsuksai. He attacked the FAT and its president Vijit Ketkaew, demanding his sacking.

The angry crowd demanded explanations, but officials refused to appear, and the FAT offices remained locked. Police had to restrain angry fans trying to break in.

Around 29,000 tickets costing between Bt100 and Bt300 went on sale at 9am yesterday and had disappeared by 11am. Queues longer than a kilometre formed from dawn, and some fans arrived at the stadium at 3am.

"I arrived from Chon Buri at 4am, and I still didn't get a ticket. This happened to me for the semi-final match with Vietnam,'' one fan complained.

Scalpers were reportedly charging four times face value, and some tickets were being offered at Bt1,300.

Later in the afternoon more than a hundred fans gathered at Pathum Wan police station complaining of FAT injustice.

Police said it was the biggest crowd in the area for three years. There were no reports of violence.

FAT honorary life president Chaiyapak Siriwat said he had advised the Bureau of Sports Development to impose a ticket quota but had been ignored. The bureau is in charge of ticket sales.

The stadium is now more than 70 years old and can seat just 30,000. Chaiyapak encouraged those who could not get tickets to watch the game on a giant screen at the adjacent Thephassadin Stadium.

The second leg of the final between Thailand and Singapore kicks off at 7pm today. Thailand lost to the Lions 2-1 last week in a controversial away tie. It was highlighted by a 15-minute suspension of play as the Thai team stormed off the pitch following the awarding of a contentious penalty to the hosts.

Today will see 600 police deployed around the stadium.

Police warned fans to behave before, during and after the match.

Metropolitan police deputy commissioner Maj-General Kamol Kaewsuwan said troublemakers would be detained.

Anything that can be used as a weapon, even plastic bottles of drinking water, will be confiscated.

Metal- and explosives-detectors have been installed at entrances. Plain-clothes police will be on duty inside and outside the stadium.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont called on all fans to show good sportsmanship and accept the result whatever it was.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

 The Nation