The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is asking fans to return tickets for a Wales v England match because they were for 1,500 seats that do not exist.
The FAW had stated that the Saturday, 26 March Euro 2012 game in Cardiff was a sell-out before the administrative error took place.
It has asked the FA to ensure England fans return 951 tickets for the match.
The FAW admits it is not just English fans affected, as 549 Welsh supporters will also suffer disappointment.
“It is with regret that I must confirm that the Football Association of Wales has had to reduce the allocation of tickets for the Wales v England match on Saturday, March 26,” said FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford.
“The reason for this reduction is that the total tickets that the Football Association of Wales understood could be made available for sale was incorrect.
On behalf of the Football Association of Wales, I would like to apologise unreservedly for the disappointment this will cause
Welsh FA chief executive Jonathan Ford
“On behalf of the Football Association of Wales, I would like to apologise unreservedly for the disappointment this will cause.”
The tickets were part of an additional allocation of 1,500 for the Millennium Stadium showdown issued last month which sold out within four hours.
It has now been discovered that the majority of these tickets were only released because of an administrative error and should not have been sold at all.
Despite efforts to resolve the situation, the FA has written to the supporters concerned, confirming that refunds will be made, both for the tickets and any delivery charge incurred.
The FA has confirmed that the original 7,500 tickets that were sold through the “englandfans loyalty scheme” will be honoured.
“The FA shares the disappointment fans will feel at being let down for this crucial match,” said the FA in their lengthy letter to fans, outlining the seriousness of the problem.
The 2012 European Championship Group G qualifier is set to be Wales’ first Millennium Stadium sell-out for five-and-a-half years.
The Welsh FA confirmed last week that it had sold all 69,000 tickets for the first home game for new boss Gary Speed.
Wales are bottom of their Euro 2012 qualifying group after three defeats in three games while unbeaten England are second on seven points, three points behind group leaders Montenegro with a game in hand.
