FIFA to provide tickets for obese fans at Confederations Cup

The governing body will allow fans with a Body Mass Index above a certain level to gain entry to seats with more space at the tournament in Russia.

The new category will be priced the same as a standard tickets, with Category One group matches priced at £110, while the final could cost fans up to £199.

FIFA said: "Tickets in all categories – including category 4 tickets, which are reserved exclusively for Russian residents as well as for disabled people, people with limited mobility and obese people – will be made available by FIFA for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis, which means that, unlike in the previous sales window, they will be allocated as a real-time transaction to the ticket applicants."

FIFA's website defines obese people as those "with a BMI that is equal to or exceeds 35 kg/m2”. It adds that those wishing to purchase the tickets will need a signed doctor's note stating their BMI.

Supporters from Russia, Germany, Australia, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal and Cameroon will all be able to benefit from FIFA's new obese category.