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MONTEVIDEO, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Uruguay's players have joined in the criticism over a rise in ticket prices for their team's World Cup qualifiers.
Prices to watch the matches at the Centenario stadium vary from 100 pesos ($4) to 625 ($27), nearly twice the amount charged in the 2002 qualifying competition.
"The ticket prices are robbery," midfielder Pablo Garcia told local media. "The public cannot afford them.
"There are a lot of people with no job or who earn low salaries and they can't afford a luxury such as this.
The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) said on Monday that 21,000 of the 55,000 tickets for Saturday's match at home to Bolivia had been sold.
"We all want a full stadium," striker Diego Forlan was quoted as saying. "The public always follow us.
"We understand the situation and that the ticket prices are high, and it makes us a bit angry that not everyone can afford them."
The government has also expressed concern at the prices but has said it will not interfere in the association's affairs.
