KARMA IN ACTION

About 1,600 Liverpool fans whose FA Cup final tickets were stolen in a mail van raid were told yesterday that they will not be allowed entry to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for Saturday's showpiece occasion.

The tickets, which were posted to fans unable to collect them from Anfield, were stolen from a Royal Mail van on Friday while the postman was delivering mail to Liverpool's local rivals Everton.

The thief, who wore a blue baseball cap and a blue short-sleeved shirt similar to a postal worker's uniform, was then seen running away. Police do not believe the theft was motivated by club rivalry. The stadium authorities have refused to issue replacements even though the missing tickets have been identified and cancelled.

They said printing duplicates would cause a safety hazard as owners of both sets of tickets could enter the ground. Dave Murphy, of the Liverpool Official Supporters' Club, said: "People are being punished for something that is totally out of their control." But Paul Sergeant, the Millennium Stadium chief executive, said: "We cannot compromise on segregation or the safety of our employees."

The affected seats will remain empty and anyone who has a ticket for them will be arrested. Chief Supt Bob Evans, of South Wales police, said: "Unless you have purchased your ticket through an official source it is probably forged or stolen. Don't travel to Cardiff."