EC looking into complaint over World Cup ticket sales
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-03 10:02

Following a complaint from membersof the European Parliament (EP), the European Commission (EC) is examining how football governing body FIFA is selling tickets, Brussels-based newsletter service EurActiv reported on Friday.

Some EP members recently complained to the EC about the sale of World Cup 2006 tickets by FIFA, accusing the football governing body of "abusing its monopoly".

The EP members said that FIFA is demanding immediate payment for match tickets being sold online without guaranteeing that applicants will actually get tickets.

Under the conditional sales offer, fans are given the chance toput their names on the waiting list for any returned tickets from national associations, sponsors or partners.

The main complaints of the EP members are:

-- Applicants are required to pay in advance without knowing whether they will get their tickets as the final allocation of thetickets only takes place in February 2006.

-- Applicants who are not eligible to get tickets will only be reimbursed after the tournament in July 2006.

The EC's department for competition is looking into complaints about the way soccer's governing body FIFA is selling tickets and is in contact with FIFA.

It was reported that applicants have to pay a non-refundable fee of 5 euros. Those not allocated tickets after a draw is made in February 2006 will be refunded what they paid for the ticket.