MEP champions plight of fans in internet rip-off

May 16 2007 by Alan Weston and Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S top politician in Europe last night urged tough action to avoid a repetition of the “fiasco” engulfing Liverpool fans left without tickets for next week’s Champions League final in Athens.

Labour’s North West MEP Arlene McCarthy made her demand as ticket agencies faced accusations of cashing in on the supporters’ plight, and a growing number of angry fans fell victim to “rip off” internet fraudsters.

Miss McCarthy, chair of the European Parliament’s Consumer Protection committee, will call on Europe’s governing body UEFA to ban selling tickets on the internet.

She also wants to see a photo-ID system on tickets to counter fraud and re-selling, advanced announcements of ticket sales, and differential ticket allocations based on patterns of fans travelling, not just a 50-50 split.

She said it would ensure loyal fans would not be denied tickets to finals.

Miss McCarthy added: “To avoid future fiasco I will be calling for action at our next Friends of Football meeting in the European Parliament,

“I will be calling on UEFA to address repeated problems with ticket allocation, fraud and re-selling with long-term measures.

“This will be too late for disappointed Liverpool fans this year but should help us to once and for all put an end to ticketing issues and put in place a system which is fair for all.”

Miss McCarthy has made strong representations to UEFA regarding her concerns about the Athens final and the row over ticket allocations.

She said: “Following my requests for transparency regarding ticketing, I have been informed by UEFA that out of a stadium capacity of 62,000 Liverpool and Milan have been allocated 17,000 tickets each. A further 9,000 were for public sale on the internet. Including the clubs own allocation the fans received a total of 43,000 tickets, 69% of the total amount available.”

“In response to my questions regarding the number of tickets set aside for disabled fans I have been told that 160 seats have been allocated, 80 for disabled fans and 80 for their companions.”

On the issue of fake tickets and tickets being re-sold she said : “I welcome action by UEFA and the UK police to beat the ticket touts and fraudsters. New legislation which came into force on April 6 makes it a criminal offence in England and Wales for an unauthorised person to sell a ticket for a designated football match. The new law also specifically makes it a criminal offence to sell over the internet.

“UEFA has been monitoring the sale of illegal tickets and has already cancelled some tickets which have been illegally sold. They have given a clear warning to fans not to buy tickets from unauthorised sources on the internet, otherwise they are taking the risk their tickets will be fake or if real and illegally sold they will be cancelled by UEFA.

“While fans, as ever, are encouraged not to travel without tickets, it is inevitable that some fans will travel to Athens, particularly those whom have already paid for travel and accommodation.

“Further to my requests, to UEFA two fans parks are being set up in Athens, including an alcohol free area for those travelling with their family.”

Yesterday a Daily Post trawl revealed a variety of internet sites selling tickets at prices well in excess of £1,000 for the best seats.

One agency, VIP Ticket Traders which has an office in London’s Tottenham Court Road, was offering a “side of pitch” ticket for £1,295 on Sunday. That price has now risen to £1,700.