Como Executives Give Up Champions League Tickets for Loyal Veteran Fans
Como president Mirwan Suwarso and board members gave up their Champions League debut tickets for veteran fans born in 1950 or earlier, as the club prepares to host RB Leipzig.
Como is set to make its historic Champions League debut on Thursday by hosting RB Leipzig at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, but even before the opening whistle, the Italian club delivered a deeply touching story.
Como President Mirwan Suwarso and several board members decided to give up their own tickets to the match to allow the club's most loyal veteran fans to attend the event. This will be Como's very first match in Europe's premier competition after finishing last season in fourth place in Serie A under coach Cesc Fàbregas.
Demand for tickets to the historic match far outstripped supply. Como's home stadium, located on the shores of the lake, holds only about 12,000 seats, and even this capacity was reduced by about 1,000 additional seats due to UEFA's operational and broadcast requirements.
After all tickets sold out, Suwarso announced on Instagram that he and other club executives would give up their seats in favor of elderly fans born in 1950 or earlier, who supported Como throughout the difficult years in the lower leagues.
«With the limited capacity and the restricted number of tickets, unfortunately, we will not be able to host everyone who would like to be there», Suwarso wrote. «However, several senior club officials and I have decided to give up our seats for this match.»
He later added: «We want these seats to be allocated to the fans who have waited for this the longest — fans born in 1950 or earlier, who accompanied Como in every league and through every period. It will be an honor for us to give up our seats for them.»
