Scotland Tickets Website Crashes

A WEBSITE crashed yesterday as the Tartan Army went into a ticket frenzy for next month's crunch Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy.

Fans swamped the official Scotland Supporters Club site and phone lines when the tickets went on sale at 9am

It is the first time that no tickets are being offered on public sale for a Scotland home match.

The 27,000 members of the official supporters' club will get one guaranteed ticket each for the match on November 17.

A further 8000 tickets will then be balloted among them.

The remaining 17,000 tickets which make up Hampden's 52,000 capacity will go to opposition fans, debenture holders, hospitality and dignitaries.

The supporters club wrote to members last month saying they would be overhauling their website and hotline next year.

But demand was so high yesterday the website crashed under the pressure, while supporters faced a long wait to get through on the phone.

Hamish Husband, of the Association of Tartan Army Clubs, said: "We knew this was going to be a difficult situation with the increasing number of fans wanting tickets."

Fans have until October 19 to claim their tickets.