November 20 – The UK government has launched new legislation that will outlaw the sale of tickets for sporting and music events at inflated price – however, the new bill will not protect football supporters.
This comes after a BBC investigation that uncovered a massive black market where Premier League tickets were being sold for two to four times their original price.
Football ticket sales will remain under previous legislation, however, the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which bans the sale of tickets by anyone other than the match organiser.
This law was originally enacted to reduce hooliganism at matches, not to protect fans from price gouging.
Because this old law technically “covers” football, the government decided not to include the sport in the new legislation. It’s hard not to question that logic when the problem is happening right in front of everyone.
And being an act of government, there is, of course, a sub-clause with the 1994 Act means it only applies to England and Wales. The black market doesn’t care about borders, though, with more than 50 websites appearing on the Premier League’s own list of unauthorised sellers, including major ticket platforms like StubHub and Vivid Seats.
Many of these companies are based in Germany, Dubai, Spain, and Estonia, which means they can operate freely. They’re not breaking UK law as long as the resale transaction happens outside England and Wales.
Everyone agrees the black market is out of control in English football. So why on earth wouldn’t the government include the sport that needs the protection most?
It almost makes you long for the day of ticket touts outside grounds flogging paper tickets. At least then, there was a face to the skulduggery.