Cup ticket firm faces criminal charges by FIFA
David de Reina, Kepa
FIFA on Tuesday said it had filed a criminal complaint against the secondary ticketing firm Viagogo’s sale of 2018 World Cup tickets, opening a new battle between sports organisations and websites seeking a share of their profits.
“As part of its efforts to protect the fans and prevent unauthorised ticket resales for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, FIFA filed a criminal complaint on 4 June 2018 based on a breach of the law on unfair competition against Viagogo AG with the public prosecutor’s office in Geneva,” FIFA said.
LOW PROFIT
The 2018 World Cup has cost Russia billions of dollars to stage and will make FIFA hundreds of millions in profit.
Still, the big numbers that are routine for major sports events are unlikely to set World Cup records. Russia’s official budget of 678 billion rubles ($11.6 billion) spent on projects for the tournament is less than the estimated $15 billion spent by Brazil on the 2014 World Cup.
FIFA will top $6 billion for the four-year commercial cycle tied to this World Cup, beating its $5.656 billion target. That target, however, was conservative compared to $5.72 billion of overall income booked by FIFA in the Brazilian World Cup period.
GENEVA:
MOROCCO FOR 2026?
FIFA can afford to have Morocco host the 2026 World Cup, according to President Gianni Infantino, even if the rival North American bid promises billions of dollars more in revenue. Ahead of next week’s vote by FIFA members in Moscow, Infantino said on Monday: “FIFA can afford whatever the congress decides. We have to live with that and to make the best of any decision which is taken.”
GENEVA: BUENOSAIRES: ZURICH: