26.12.2013 18:07 h

Brazil fines FIFA for Confed Cup ticket snafus

Harte Gangart gegen den Spielmacher
Harte Gangart gegen den Spielmacher

World football's governing body FIFA has been fined over ticketing problems which arose at a Confederations Cup match in Brazil last June, media and consumer organizations said Thursday.

Consumer body Procon indicated a civil ruling had been made against FIFA in the northeastern city of Recife, following a case brought on behalf of eight fans who said they were unable to access their seats for the June 16 Confederations Cup match between Spain and Uruguay.

Procon said FIFA and its operational services provider Match had both been fined 500,000 reais ($210,000).

A lawyer for the fans said that some had been forced to sit on the steps, while others simply left the stadium.

One fan received compensation of 2,000 reais ($800), with others receiving smaller sums after a magistrate ruled that their consumer rights had been breached.

The fans said they had tickets to be seated near the action, but that they were reassigned to seats further up in the stands, some with a poor view of the pitch.

FIFA and Match had indicated when the case started earlier this month that if fans were not directed to their nominal seats then it was a matter for the local organizers and main venue constructor Odebrecht.

Sports daily Lance quoted the director of Procon's Recife office, Jose Neves, as saying that "we received various complaints" from fans and that the case augured badly for next June's World Cup, which Brazil will host.

The Confederations tournament, an eight-team dress rehearsal for next year's extravaganza which Brazil won, was marred by mass public protests against political corruption but also the cost of staging major sports events.

Neves told Lance: "Our concern is the future, the 2014 World Cup."

FIFA said it could not immediately comment on the case.

Globo daily meanwhile described the outcome as a "first defeat for FIFA before Brazilian justice."