Super Lig average attendance drops to 6,267 following Passolig system [divider]
Süper Lig attendance figures are continuing to fall following the introduction of the Passolig e-ticketing system.
The average crowd numbers dropped to 6,267 per-game at the end of week 9, less than half compared to this stage last season.
Galatasaray have suffered the biggest losses in revenue as a result of the supporters protests.
The Lions averaged 33,288 fans per-game last season at the 52,000 capacity Türk Telekom Arena, that figure has dropped to just 12,275.
In total contrast, interest in lower-tier football where Passolig is not enforced has seen a dramatic rise.
Zonguldak Kömürspor in the Spor Toto 3. Lig are drawing larger crowds than many Süper Lig outfits.
The Miners have attracted an average of 9,562 fans this season to their 13,000 seater Kemal Köksal stadium.
Sakaryaspor – also playing in the Spor Toto 3. Lig – drew 12,400 fans against Ankarademirspor, 11,000 against Silivrispor and 14,100 supporters against Ayvalıkgücü.
Süper Lig outift Gençlerbirliği has seen a 90 percent drop in ticket sales, Gaziantepspor has seen an 83 percent decrease, Fenerbahçe has seen a 46.8 percent reduction.
Konyaspor are one of the few Süper Lig clubs to record a rise – 8 percent, largely thanks to moving from a 22,000 stadium to a brand new 42,000 seater arena.
The Passolig system is currently being taken to court by a non governmental organization named Supporter Rights Solidarity Center (Taraf-Der).
Taraf-Der are campaigning for the Passolig to be disbanded on grounds that the e-ticketing system violates the constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Taraf-Der member Ertuğrul Cem Cihan said, “Passolig violates our constitutional and the European Convention on Human Rights, once our case is heard at the constitutional court we believe the system will be disbanded. Our message to the fans is keep protesting, we are in the right, they are breaking the law and we need to stand firm against those abusing our rights.”
The company issuing the cards has access to supporters’ national identity data, bank accounts and other private data which can be sold to third parties.
The cards are issued by investment bank Aktif Yatirim Bankasi AS which $1.3 billion of short-term debt as of June, which rates it six levels below investment grade according to Bloomberg.
Fans are worried that their details could be used for surveillance and also complain at being forced to pay the bank running Passolig commission on every sale.
Each Passolig card sold automatically results in a credit card and bank account being opened at Aktif Bank.
