FIFA Faces Scrutiny from Ontario Government Over Ticket Resale Law
The Ontario government has officially warned FIFA that its World Cup ticket resale platform is violating the province's strict new anti-scalping laws. Under recently passed legislation, it is illegal to resell tickets in Ontario for more than face value.
By DiaspoMeet Editorial
FIFA Faces Scrutiny from Ontario Government Over Ticket Resale Law
Ontario’s Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery has contacted FIFA regarding "ongoing non-compliance" with the province's newly enacted ticket resale regulations. Introduced in the recent budget to make live events more affordable, the law prohibits tickets from being resold above their original face value within Ontario.
The Core Issue:
Primary vs. Secondary Sales: As the primary vendor, FIFA is legally permitted to price original, unsold tickets as high as it wants.
The Violation: The government alleges that FIFA’s proprietary resale platform allows fans to relist tickets at inflated prices, which directly violates Ontario law.
Minister Stephen Crawford stated that the government has issued notices to companies failing to comply, though he declined to outline specific penalties. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have criticized the government, labeling the law "all show" and demanding immediate fines rather than warnings. Enforcement is expected to be a major hurdle, as Ontario's face-value restriction does not apply to other World Cup host jurisdictions across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
