However, 15,000 more have been sold over the internet to Turkish nationals and many of these are expected to be sold on, despite UEFA’s warnings to fans about the dangers of being ripped off.

There have also been security problems involving English fans in Turkey in the past – two Leeds supporters were stabbed to death in 2000 and there has been trouble when the national sides have met – but with a Turkish club not being involved it is understood UEFA are not overly worried about the final.

That view was echoed by Dr Rogan Taylor, of the Football Research Unit at Liverpool University, and himself a Liverpool fan.

Taylor said: “The key is that a Turkish club is not involved, there will be no particularly history between Liverpool and their opponents in the final, and that Liverpool are quite a popular club in Istanbul.

“It will be like Celtic in the UEFA Cup final in Seville a couple of seasons ago – thousands will go hoping to pick up a ticket there or just to be part of the event.

“I think the people of Istanbul are in for a great party. Liverpool fans will be going on cheap package holidays to Turkey, getting a bus to Istanbul, and having a ball.”

The capacity of the Ataturk Olympic stadium is just under 70,000 with just over half the seats reserved for supporters of the two finalists.

Some 14,500 tickets have been allocated to the ‘football family’, which includes national associations plus commercial and broadcasting partners, and a further 7,500 tickets are being sold to Turkish nationals.

The remaining 7,500 tickets have already been sold to the general public via www.uefa.com – and most of these are expected to end up in the hands of Liverpool supporters.

UEFA said in a statement: “European football’s governing body encourages fans not to be lured into deals with touts who not only demand exorbitant prices but are often not in possession of the tickets they claim to have for sale.”