Free tickets for locals at 2010 WC

DURBAN, South Africa -- FIFA will hand out 120,000 free tickets to South Africans for the 2010 World Cup, the world governing body announced on Saturday.

The free tickets will be provided by FIFA's commercial partners and to ensure that locals on low incomes can watch the games the cheapest tickets will cost less than $20 and will only be available to South African residents.

FIFA have confirmed that the lowest priced 'category four' tickets will cost $150 for the final -- the lowest prices since 1990.

Between 15% and 20% of the seats will be designated category four tickets.

The most expensive category one tickets will cost $900 for the final, FIFA revealed at a news conference in Durban.

The cheapest tickets for overseas fans will start at $80 dollars.

World Cup organizers said measures would be taken to ensure the free and cheap tickets would not be sold on to overseas fans - it has been suggested that ticket holders may have to also produce South African ID cards to gain access to the stadia.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said: "We are working on measures to make sure there is no black market."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed his confidence that all the stadia would be ready in time and said that in order to minimize labor disruptions construction workers will be given an annual bonus if they do not strike.

Blatter said: "We are not only confident but we are sure all the constructions will be ready for the 2010 World Cup.

"They are transparent and honest that not everything may be ready for the 2009 Confederations Cup but there are enough stadiums for that, and for 2010 everything will be ready.

"We are more than confident and trust the organization here." E-mail to a friend