BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Police suspended ticket sales for the final of the World Youth Championship Thursday after they lost control of a massive crowd who had come in hope of securing seats for the game which pits hosts Argentina against Ghana.

The decision was made after a crowd of about 20,000 gathered at the ticket office of the Velez stadium where Sunday's game will take place.

With few police on hand to control the throng and officers fearing some people might be crushed or suffocated, the ticket sales were ordered ended.

Police spokesman Jorge Capeci said the situation could have turned dangerous.

"The situation was becoming out of control . . . there were many people who were beginning to have difficulty breathing," Capeci said.

Twenty thousand tickets are on sale for the final, which will take place in the 40,000 capacity Jose Amalfitani stadium. The rest have already been allotted in advance.

With the cost of a ticket only six to ten dollars and with the host nation going for a record fourth world youth cup title, demand has surged for the remaining entrances.

Queues started to form as soon as Argentina booked their place in the final Wednesday evening when they beat Paraguay 5-0 in the semifinal.

Authorities indicated ticket sales would be resumed and they will now be sold at various different locations instead of just at the stadium as was the case until Thursday.