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Soccer-Palmeiras beat Santos amid controversy over ticket prices

By Andrew Downie

SAO PAULO, April 26 (Reuters) - Palmeiras beat Santos 1-0 in the first leg of the Paulista state championship final on Sunday but the tepid game was warmed up when home fans and the club chairman clashed over ticket prices.

The match at Palmeiras' new Allianz Parque attracted a crowd of 39,479 and receipts of almost $1.52 million, both records for the stadium which opened less than a year ago.

The average ticket went for 105 reais ($36) but the most expensive sold for 390 reais and spectators expressed their dissatisfaction at the pricing policy by holding aloft banners saying "Football is for the people" and "Working class team".