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Como Officials Give Up Seats for Elderly Fans at Champions League Debut

BBC Sport Football •
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Como president Mirwan Suwarso and several directors are surrendering their tickets for the club's Champions League debut against RB Leipzig on Thursday to allow elderly supporters to attend. The Serie A club qualified for the continental competition for the first time in their 119-year history after finishing fourth last season under manager Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona midfielder.

Demand for tickets has far exceeded supply at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, which sits on the shores of Lake Como. The stadium's capacity of roughly 12,000 was reduced by 1,000 due to UEFA broadcasting and operational requirements. After tickets sold out, Indonesian businessman Suwarso announced on Instagram that he and other executives would give up their seats for fans born in 1950 or earlier.

"We want those seats to be allocated to supporters who have waited the longest — fans who have followed Como through every division and every era," Suwarso wrote. "We will be honoured to give up our seat for them."