Consumer Group Attacks Ticket Scheme

A British consumer group has made a formal complaint to the European Commission accusing the world soccer governing body FIFA, the German Football League and MasterCard of "anti-competitive" ticketing arrangements that breach European law.

The consumers' group Which? claims that the system for buying tickets for the 2006 World Cup discriminates against fans outside Germany and contravene the EU's own competition rules. Which? says that deal struck between the three entities is anti-competitive and puts soccer fans in the Britain and around Europe at a disadvantage, as well as meaning they will incur additional and unnecessary costs.

Tickets for matches in the early stages of the tournament can be bought only by using MasterCard, one of the sponsors, or by sending cash via a bank transfer -- which can cost up to £30 -- or via a German bank account. Fans who do not use these methods of payment will not have their applications for tickets processed.

An end to competition law breaches

The consumer group is calling on the European Commission to force FIFA to scrap this ticketing policy and allow people to pay by whichever method they choose. "We are urging the European Commission to honor the pledge it made when a similar breach was alleged during the 1998 World Cup in France. Unless it takes action European competition laws will be breached again and again," Phil Evans of Which? said in a statement.

In a report published by the British daily The Independent, Philippe Ruttley, a partner at the law firm Clyde & Co, said: "The ticket sales arrangements for the 2006 World Cup discriminate against football fans not situated in Germany and force them to buy tickets initially through an exclusive route controlled by a single credit card operator - unless they hold a bank account in Germany or are prepared to carry out a bank transfer requiring additional expense. Such conditions are plainly unfair and discriminate against non-German EU football fans."

Ticketing scheme fair, says FIFA

FIFA responded by saying that it had taken "great care in ensuring that its activities are in line with European competition law". It also denied that its ticketing policy was unfair. "There are genuine, fair and internationally-accepted alternative payment methods available, and no-one will have a lesser chance of acquiring a ticket if they do not have a MasterCard," it said in a statement.

In the first round of ticket sales, fans must buy tickets through FIFA using either the bank transfer option or their MasterCard. In the following rounds, fans will be allowed to buy tickets using their preferred methods of payment through their national soccer associations.

While FIFA stresses that alternative payment options will be available in the next phase, Which? is concerned that by then most of the best tickets will have been sold.