Hospitality companies belonging to Ipswich Town’s owner, Marcus Evans, are among those being sued by Uefa for allegedly selling unauthorised packages of Euro 2016 tickets.
As at every major sporting event a game of cat and mouse has been playing out in France between those offering unauthorised packages and the official hospitality provided by Uefa and its partners.
Uefa has stepped up its efforts to clamp down on unauthorised vendors and it said that among the companies it was suing were several that were part of the Marcus Evans Investment group, whose reclusive owner made his fortune from the burgeoning sports hospitality industry.
“In order to protect consumers Uefa has repeatedly taken action against unauthorised sellers both in France and abroad,” it said in a statement. “Uefa has previously obtained orders against other rogue sellers and Uefa is confident that it will obtain orders against these companies on this occasion as well.
“Continuing its policy of taking vigorous action to prevent unauthorised sales, Uefa has today announced that it has commenced proceedings against a number of companies alleged to be involved in the sale of unauthorised packages for Uefa Euro 2016 matches. Among the companies sued are British companies which are part of the Marcus Evans Investment group of companies which is owned by Marcus Evans, the owner of Ipswich Town Football Club.”
Uefa said before the tournament that tickets were 99% sold out and targeted a number of unauthorised websites before the tournament. Police also warned against buying tickets through unofficial channels.
“Uefa hopes to stop such unauthorised activities which it believes are detrimental to consumers and to the event,” it said. “The illegitimate sale of tickets at vast mark ups takes tickets away from ordinary fans and also breaks the chain of custody for tickets that is indispensable for safety reasons.”
That last point is likely to be controversial in the wake of the complaints over segregation at the England v Russia, marred by a charge from Russian fans towards their English counterparts at the final whistle.
Some have blamed Uefa’s policy of selling large numbers of tickets to neutrals, which then find their way into the hands of fans of the competing teams.
