Fifa, world football’s governing body, is facing an investigation into allegations of widespread misconduct in the pricing and distribution of tickets for international tournaments. The probe, confirmed by independent ethics officials this morning, threatens to reignite questions over the organisation’s governance and transparency.
The investigation centres on claims that senior Fifa officials colluded with authorised ticket resellers to inflate prices on the secondary market, diverting profits away from genuine fans. Whistleblowers have provided documents suggesting that for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, up to 40 percent of premium tickets were allocated to corporate partners and hospitality firms, only to be resold at markups exceeding 500 percent. Internal emails reportedly show executives discussing how to “maximise revenue” from demand for high-profile matches.
A Fifa spokesman declined to comment on the specifics, stating only that the organisation “cooperates fully” with any ethics inquiry. The investigation is being led by the independent Ethics Committee, which was established after the 2015 corruption crisis to rebuild trust. However, critics argue that Fifa’s internal mechanisms remain toothless. Transparency International, the anti-corruption watchdog, said the allegations “strike at the heart of football’s integrity” and called for an external, statutory inquiry.
The timing is particularly damaging. Fifa is preparing to award hosting rights for the 2034 tournament, with Saudi Arabia the frontrunner. The bid process has already drawn scrutiny over human rights and commercial influence. Any finding of impropriety could delay or derail that contest.
Ticket pricing has long been a flashpoint. For the 2018 World Cup in Russia, fans complained of price gouging by official resellers. In 2022, many supporters reported being priced out of matches, with the cheapest tickets for the final selling for nearly $1,000 on secondary platforms. Fifa’s own data shows that average ticket prices for the men’s World Cup have risen by 60 percent in real terms since 2006.
The investigation will examine whether Fifa violated its own code of ethics, which prohibits officials from using their position for personal gain. If found guilty, individuals could face bans of up to 10 years. The case also raises questions about the role of Qatar as host, where migrant labour abuses were widespread during stadium construction.
In a statement, the Football Supporters’ Association described the probe as “overdue”, adding: “Fans have been exploited for too long. Football cannot afford another scandal.”
