In the world of football, it’s uncommon for a coach to sell tickets to a major match via social media, but that’s exactly what Schalke 04 manager Karel Gratz (42) did recently. On Sunday, the Belgian coach, with 23,100 followers, posted an unusual update on his account, announcing the sale of two tickets for that night’s highly anticipated UEFA Euro Round of 16 match between England and Slovakia. The game was not only known for its intense rivalry but also for its implications on England’s title prospects.
With straightforward simplicity, Gratz wrote in his post, “Selling two UEFA Euro tickets for England vs. Slovakia. Please DM for details.” This public offer for sought-after match tickets quickly caught the attention of fans and the media alike.
Notably, these tickets were Category A, indicating their high value. According to Bild, each ticket was priced at €200, a considerable amount for many fans. The question remained: Why would a club coach like Gratz have access to such prized tickets?
A plausible explanation could be related to the venue – the match took place at the Veltins-Arena, Schalke 04’s home ground. As the team’s manager, Gratz might have had access to special ticket allocations or channels due to the home advantage. Alternatively, he may have purchased the tickets himself through regular channels, intending to resell them should personal circumstances prevent him from attending.
Regardless of the reason, Gratz’s action added an intriguing twist to the already electrifying Euro competition and left an amusing anecdote for the final Euro game held in Gelsenkirchen.