 England fans have paid inflated sums to see World Cup games |
World Cup officials have defended their ticketing policies after complaints that England fans have been paying inflated sums on the black market. In some cases they have paid �300 for a ticket, almost 10 times the price of the cheapest seats.
Some of the tickets available from touts have reportedly come from foreign football associations and sponsors.
But a World Cup spokesman said extra tickets had been given to countries with a big fan base, such as England.
The World Cup organising committee also said sales on the internet gave everyone a chance to buy tickets for the correct price.
The spokesman said it was impossible to put into place steps to stop all illegal sales.
A high-ranking Fifa official was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace on Saturday after admitting selling World Cup tickets for three times their face value.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said he was "furious" after Botswana's Ismail Bhamjee confirmed he sold tickets at inflated prices.
Bhamjee, 62, admitted selling 12 tickets for England's match against Trinidad and Tobago at Nuremburg for �300. The tickets had a face value of �100.
Blatter chaired an Emergency Committee meeting that decided to relieve Bhamjee from World Cup duties.
He will remain a member of the executive committee, pending further action.
Have you been forced to pay inflated prices for tickets? Do you think any price is justified to watch your team play? How do you think illegal sales can be stopped? Send us your views using the link below:
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