News agency Reuters reported Thursday that Byrom received data that was supposed to be delivered by October 2001 from KOWOC on March 29, and consequently ticketing preparation and printing procedures were delayed, citing Jaime Byrom, the CEO of the London-based company. While KOWOC has commenced a legal review on FIFA and Byrom, the head of the ticketing agency insisted that Korea’s World Cup committee would not be able to institute a lawsuit against it, as KOWOC was responsible for the belated data transfer that was crucial to printing and sale of the tickets.

In response, KOWOC said Byrom was trying to pass its mistakes on to the hosting committees, calling the action unacceptable. It insisted all seat maps had been handed over according to the FIFA provision that they be sent six months prior to the opening of the games, adding that it sent expected seating plans for stadiums which were still under construction at the time.

Moreover, KOWOC claimed it had confirmed the designs that had been sent to Byrom corresponded to the actual seating maps last December when all 10 stadiums were completed. Kim Jong-dae, KOWOC's director of ticket sales said that he cannot understand why Byrom is bringing out an issue that has already been agreed upon in working-level discussions.

Already 8 days into the world's hottest soccer festival, admission tickets are still causing various problems, some 10 first class tickets to the France-Uruguay match held in Busan, Thursday, were found without gate numbers printed on them. The ticket holders who purchased the full-priced tickets through valid procedures were delayed before being allowed to enter the stadium. The discord between the KOWOC and Byrom is likely to be extended to an international lawsuit right after the finale of the soccer festival.

(Shin Dong-heun, dhshin@chosun.com )