The addresses supplied in the applications made by Internet were fraudulent, organisers found.

"The orders were based on irregular addresses to obscure the identity of the sender," said a statement from the organising committee.

"We contacted people by telephone who supposedly placed orders. Of those we reached, none had placed orders."

Checks were then carried out by e-mail and when no replies were received, the applications were withdrawn from the draw for tickets.

Football's world governing body FIFA started the draw on Friday for the tickets after receiving 10 million applications for the 812,000 tickets available in the first phase of ticket sales.

The organisers said applicants from 195 countries placed orders.

The lucky recipients will not be notified until April 22.

The finals begin on June 9, 2006, and finish with the final in Berlin on July 9.