FIFA is warning soccer fans to beware of fraudulent online ticket sales for the 2010 World Cup as it works with international agencies to address the problem.
“Many unauthorized operators are exploiting … unsuspecting fans across the world into purchasing illegitimate or unauthorized tickets and/or ticket-inclusive travel packages,” soccer’s global governing agency said in a statement. Official tickets will be printed only a few weeks before the tournament kicks off, the statement said. The agency applauded efforts by British authorities to shut down Web sites selling fraudulent tickets. Efforts are under way to implement more crackdowns worldwide. “We simply cannot accept that true fans are being cheated in this way,” said Jerome Valcke, FIFA secretary general.
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One way of ensuring legitimate sales is buying tickets from FIFA’s Web site or through its partner, MATCH, the agency said. The World Cup will be held next summer in South Africa.
