Around 130 operators under investigation by football authorities.
RIO DE JANEIRO: Around 130 companies are being investigated for selling World Cup tickets on the black market with football’s governing body Fifa claiming that some are being offered with a staggering 300% mark-up.
Match Services AG, which is the Fifa-sanctioned commercial outlet, confirmed reports in the Brazilian media that some 130 companies and operators are under investigation for offering unauthorised deals. Some of these already face judicial action in their own countries.
Match Services AG indicated it was aware of companies offering packages on the black market at vastly marked up prices.
The Estado de Sao Paulo daily quoted their legal counsel Imran Patel as saying “we are seeing a huge black market with prices of up to 300% above face value”.
Tickets for next year’s World Cup are available solely via the Fifa website. Patel said Fifa is aware of the firms involved and is ready to take legal action where necessary.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2013.
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