Thousands of Premier League tickets are being sold on the black market in the UK, with ruthless scalpers operating from overseas locations. These companies are exploiting a legal gap, resulting in fans paying significantly inflated prices ranging from £55 to nearly £15,000 per ticket. Major ticket reselling companies are based in Spain, Dubai, Germany, and Estonia, beyond the reach of UK regulations.
These overseas companies are believed to be using memberships and specialized software to acquire tickets through clubs’ online platforms, despite resale being illegal in the UK. Notably, the law does not extend to foreign-based firms. The tickets, often priced at two to four times their face value, are commonly delivered via WhatsApp, with some sellers providing advice on avoiding stadium staff.
Leading clubs like Liverpool and Everton are actively combating the issue of black-market ticketing by cancelling memberships and tickets. For instance, over 33,000 tickets were listed across various websites for last weekend’s matches. Ticket security expert Reg Walker indicated that a significant portion of these tickets may not even exist, with prices exceeding face value, inclusive of hefty booking fees.
Walker recounted a case where a Japanese family paid £2,200 for tickets originally valued at £87. Tickets for exclusive areas like Arsenal’s Diamond Club and Manchester City’s Tunnel Club were also available through these unauthorized channels. The Football Supporters’ Association expressed concerns over the prevalence of such practices, emphasizing the challenge long-term fans face in obtaining tickets due to secondary agencies.
Fan groups have consistently warned against purchasing tickets from scalpers for both domestic and international games. Arsenal and Everton have taken strong measures against unauthorized ticketing activities, with joint operations conducted with law enforcement agencies. Ticombo, a German-registered company with offices in Switzerland, defended the secondary market’s role in fostering consumer choice and competition, denying any wrongdoing or illegal activities.
While regulations aim to protect consumers by restricting ticket resale, the Premier League’s list of unauthorized ticket sellers comprises over 50 websites. Ticombo declined to provide comments on the ongoing investigation.