By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – Brazilian prosecutors want FIFA and the organising committee of last summer’s Confederations Cup to settle $2 million worth of claims for alleged ticketing irregularities during the World Cup warm-up tournament.
Prosecutors in the northeastern state of Pernambuco claim organisers did not provide the services that fans paid for at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. FIFA’s ticketing agents, MATCH Services, have been included in the court action.
Many fans complained they could not access their assigned seats for the three matches played at the venue in June, and had their views obstructed when they were forced to sit elsewhere.
FIFA and Match had indicated when the case started that if fans were not directed to their nominated seats then it was a matter for the local organisers and main venue constructor Odebrecht.
The Confederations Cup was marred by mass public protests against political corruption and lack of public facilities but also against the cost of staging major sports events and the latest case is another embarrassment for the organisers and the image of Brazil.
FIFA said it could not immediately comment but prosecutors said they hoped the lawsuit will help prevent the same problem from happening during the World Cup, for almost 1.2 million tickets have already been sold.
“The action is aimed at guaranteeing that consumers receive exactly what they pay for,” prosecutor Guilherme Lapenda said in a statement.
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