Although FIFA tournament Organising Committee chair Jim Boyce praised the quality of football on show in the seven host cities, he admitted attendance, which has averaged 5,230 spectators over 50 matches - by far the lowest figure in the competition's 36-year history, was a "negative point".

"Turkey has proved that they can organise very smoothly from all other aspects of a major competition," the Northern Irish FIFA vice-president said.

"So I honestly hope that does not have an adverse effect on the future.

"But it is still disappointing.

"I know that they are keen in the future to host a European Championship and, who knows, also the World Cup.

"I know how passionate the Turkish football fans are.

"But for some reason we did not get in the anticipated number of fans at the stadiums."


Meeting with Boyce ahead of tomorrow's final, Organising Committee President Servet Yardımcı confirmed that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) would be conducting an investigation into the poor fan turnout at what is FIFA's second biggest tournament after the World Cup.

"We are working on this issue," he insisted.

"This is a very disappointing result, there must be reasons for this.

"Of course we will try to find out the reasons for the low attendance, where we will hopefully learn a very important lesson at the TFF, and we will share these with the public."

As well as a possible Turkish bid for Euro 2024, it is feared that the low attendance rates could also have an impact on Istanbul's chances to secure the 2020 Games, although the bid team have dismissed any danger of this happening thanks to nation's track record for drawing in spectators at major events.

"This is a matter for the Turkish Football Federation and the local organising committee for FIFA Under-20 World Cup to address and they have already announced an investigation," an Istanbul 2020 spokesman told insidethegames.

"However, what Istanbul 2020 can say is that this is the exception rather than the rule in Turkey as all of the recent major international sports events that we have hosted in the last 15 months, including the 17th Mediterranean Games, the FINA World Swimming Championships [25 metres] and the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Indoor Athletics Championships have been well attended across all sessions - with the venues often sold-out.

"The 2012 WTA Championships registered the highest attendance of a WTA Championships in 13 years.

"The Olympic Family can be assured that venues at a 2020 Olympic Games in Istanbul will be full.

"The IOC Evaluation Commission noted in their report Istanbul 2020's innovative marketing 'strategies to ensure full stadia'."

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