FIFA probing empty seats

FIFA said Monday it was investigating why there had been empty seats at some of the World Cup matches in South Africa.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot confirmed there were unfilled seats at the Algeria vs Slovenia match in Polokwane on Sunday and "to some extent" in Pretoria for the Serbia vs Ghana clash on the same day.

On Monday there were banks of empty white seats in Bloemfontein's Free State stadium for the clash between Japan and Cameroon, with a crowd of just 30,600 in a ground that can seat nearly 41,000.