American lawyers are investigating Fifa and the ‘fat’ ticket prices!

The investigation will look into a number of problems that have arisen with Fifa’s ticketing process. From the way prices and categories are determined, to the positions in the stadiums, the artificial creation of “categories of the first order”….

The investigation will have investigative support from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection of the City of New York (DCWP), and internal information and documentation have been requested from FIFA through the court. American media say that this is the most serious investigation into the ticketing system that has frustrated fans around the world.

During the fall and winter, Fifa sold millions of tickets for the tournament in four categories. Ticket prices were higher than the prices for corresponding matches at every previous World Cup in every category. Even amid backlash, Fifa then increased prices from October to November, again after the World Cup draw in December and again when the “last-minute sales phase” opened in April.

However, Fifa changed stadium maps and sectors from one sales phase to the next. Part of the fans complained that they felt “cheated” and “seduced”.

Fifa defended itself by saying that “all visual representations of ticket categories on the ticketing website, such as stadium maps and illustrations, are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the actual layout and boundaries of a particular stadium.”

As for the price, Fifa has consistently defended its approach as reflecting North American norms and “extraordinary” demand, and has noted that much of the World Cup’s revenue is reinvested in the development of football around the world.