10/04/2006

Legislation targets World Cup ticket touts

New legislation has been launched to target World Cup ticket touts ahead of this summer's event in Germany.

It is now a criminal offence for anyone in England and Wales to re-sell tickets for any games throughout the tournament.

Previously, it had only been illegal to sell tickets for England's group games, leaving a loophole for touts to sell tickets for games in the later stages of the tournament.

Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said that ticket touting legislation covering football matches was "a necessary public order measure" in order to ensure the segregation of supporters.

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick said that the closure of the loophole should lead to a better tournament for England fans travelling to Germany this summer. Mr Barwick added that it had been "extremely frustrating" to see online ticket touts selling tickets for the later rounds of the competition.

According to reports, three tickets for the World Cup Final in Berlin had been sold on eBay for £2,201.

The new legislation will apply to any future FIFA or UEFA tournaments in which the England or Wales national team or senior clubs from both countries will be eligible for participation.

The World Cup kicks off on June 9. England's first group stage match - against Paraguay - is the following day.

(KMcA)




Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 March 2011
The Met Crackdown On Ticket Touts
A weekend crackdown on ticket touts has netted eight arrests as the Met's Operation Podium team targeted two football matches. Four men, aged 23-47, were arrested close to the Emirates stadium in the run up to the match on Saturday. They have since been bailed until dates in April.
19 June 2006
Pupils fall foul of World Cup fake ticket scam
A number of schoolchildren who travelled to Germany to see a World Cup match have returned home after falling foul of a fake ticket scam. More than 300 children, who come from schools across the UK, had travelled to Germany on Friday, in order to watch World Cup games on Saturday.
02 February 2015
First Tube Ticket Offices Close
Tube ticket offices in South Wimbledon and Queensway are to close today, the first of Transport for London's (TfL) controversial plan to shut all of its ticket offices. Staff at the two stations will be moved into ticket halls and on to platforms as TfL begin the closures.
24 February 2014
Tube Staff Who Worked During Strikes Given Gift Vouchers
Vouchers worth £25 have been given to Tube staff who worked during this month's strike. Staff had walked out earlier this months in protest at London Underground (LU) plans to close all of its networks ticket offices, with the lose of 950 jobs.
03 October 2013
Lottery Ticket Price Doubles
The price of a National lottery ticket is to be doubled to £2. It is understood the change, along with a series of others, is being introduced to "re-energise" the Lotto, which according to some experts has lost some of its appeal for people.