Dispute over the naming rights of the FNB Stadium, the venue for the opening and final matches of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, is stalling the printing of the tickets for the two matches.
The organisers are still unable to print the tickets because of the disagreement between the Department of Public Works and the First National Bank.
The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that although the stadium is government-owned and was previously known as Soccer City during the World Cup, FNB purchased the naming rights from 2007 to 2014.
But one of the requirements of CAF was that the venues for the matches of the continental tournament should be brand-free.
During the World Cup, the bank waived its naming rights owing to a similar requirement by FIFA.
Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Public Works, said FNB wants a further two years added to the rights agreement to waive the rights.
“The department owns the stadium and has leased it to the City of Johannesburg for 99 years, and it in turn has a deal with FNB.
“The difficulty is with what should be the compensation in lieu of what rights FNB will lose for two months.
“The issue has always been there. People had an understanding that it would not be a problem because of the World Cup experience,” Nxesi said.
He said the request by FNB to extend their rights to 2016 was a sticking point because of the “financial implications''.
“The one problem with big companies is that when there are issues of the continent, they do not take them seriously.
“The national interest might be compromised and we might be regarded as unreliable hosts,” he said.
