TOKYO (Reuters) - Organisers for the Rugby World Cup in Japan are warning fans to beware of buying tickets on anything except official sites after hundreds are believed to have been turned away at stadium gates because they held bogus tickets.
Rugby fever is spreading in Japan, especially after the national team - the Brave Blossoms - achieved a historic victory over Ireland on Saturday, and some fans have said on social media they will do anything to get into a game.
"Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that fans at several venues for the World Cup have been unable to gain admittance due to holding illegally resold tickets," organisers said in a statement on its website.
A spokesman for the organising committee said that while they have not compiled detailed records of how many fans were refused entry, there were "at least a few" showing up at every match, with around 200 recorded at the Sept. 21 New Zealand-South Africa match alone.
"We once again strongly urge fans to purchase their tickets through official sites," the organizers' statement added.
Many social media users echoed this, saying that while everybody wants to see a match live, using illegal sites just was not worth it.
But not everyone is listening.
"I've become totally obsessed with rugby, even at this late date," wrote one Twitter user. "As a result, I'll happily deal even with a scalper to get to see one match in a stadium with my own eyes."
(Reporting by Elaine Lies; editing by Christian Schmollinger)