The Ontario government says FIFA may be offside of its new law banning the resale of tickets for above face value and is warning the international soccer organization it could face a fine of up to $250,000 for doing so.
The province confirmed to CTV News on Tuesday that it has engaged with FIFA and other resellers to comply with the new legislation, which passed as part of Ontario’s budget in April.
FIFA is allowed to set ticket prices at its discretion. But if tickets are resold on their platform above face value, those sales are subject to the amendments made to the Ticket Sales Act.
“We expect all ticket resale companies operating in the province to comply with our government’s new rules,” Giulia Paikin said in an email.
“Businesses that do not comply will face enforcement action and significant fines.”
While some tickets are still available on FIFA’s website for the six games being hosted at Toronto Stadium (aka BMO Field) later this month, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles alleges that tickets are being sold for higher than face value on FIFA’s own resale platform.
“This is unacceptable and seems to directly contravene this new law,” Stiles wrote in an open letter, pointing out that the reseller StubHub also appears to be breaking the rules.
CTV News observed that some “Category 3″ tickets for Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto are selling for nearly $1,600 after initially being sold for $1,300 back in December. Some tickets in that category, however, are also being sold for less than face value.
‘No one should be priced out’
Stiles pushed the Ontario government to act quickly to address the issue, charging that it failed to crack down on sky-high ticket resale prices for past events like last fall’s World Series, which inspired the legislative change.
“No one should be priced out of a chance to experience moments like the World Cup. Amid an affordability crisis, these life-changing occasions cannot exclusively be for the wealthy to enjoy,” she wrote.
CTV News Toronto has reached out to FIFA for comment on the allegations but has not received a response.
StubHub previously told CTV News that it was working with the Ontario government to comply with the new law and had “implemented changes” to do so.
