Investigation Uncovers Black Market for Premier League Tickets
A BBC investigation has uncovered a black market operating thousands of Premier League tickets.
Companies situated in various overseas locations, including a small town in Switzerland, are believed to be behind this operation.
These entities are reportedly utilizing memberships and sophisticated software to acquire tickets in bulk through the online ticket platforms of football clubs.
In the UK, the resale of tickets is illegal, and the Premier League maintains a list of unauthorized websites involved in this practice.
Nonetheless, BBC Sport successfully purchased tickets through the black market for four matches over the past weekend, highlighting that this issue is becoming increasingly prevalent in English football.
Despite the Manchester derby being sold out weeks in advance, our team managed to secure a pair of tickets in the City section just days before the event.
We also acquired tickets for matches involving Arsenal, Everton, and West Ham.
At all four games, our journalists were able to use the tickets to gain entry; however, other fans reported purchasing tickets that did not allow them access.
The prices we encountered ranged from two to four times the original face value, with some tickets being sent via UK phone numbers on WhatsApp, accompanied by strict instructions not to engage with stewards.
These findings have sparked demands for clubs, the Premier League, and the government to take stronger action against the black market.
Concerns have been raised that the extent of this market is making it more difficult for fans to obtain tickets at face value from official sources, as well as posing potential safety risks due to violations of strict segregation rules.
In response, clubs stated they are actively addressing this issue and have already cancelled tens of thousands of memberships and tickets.
Widespread Concerns Over Ticket Reselling
The Premier League's list of unauthorized ticket sellers includes over 50 websites, such as Stubhub and Vivid Seats, where Chelsea owner Todd Boehly serves as a director.
Our investigation focused on four websites from this list that are accessible within the UK and appeared to be selling the most tickets.
These four sites collectively listed tens of thousands of Premier League tickets for sale, with over 18,000 tickets advertised for the Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest match alone—nearly a third of the Emirates' capacity.
While BBC Sport could not verify the authenticity of all the listed tickets, ticket security expert Reg Walker suggested that many of the listings may be speculative, meaning the tickets do not actually exist.
Walker estimated that only 10-25% of the advertised tickets are likely real, which could still amount to thousands of tickets for each round of matches.
Prices varied significantly, ranging from £55 to £14,962, often exceeding the original cost and usually including substantial booking fees.
Walker recounted an instance where a family of Japanese tourists paid £2,200 for tickets with an £87 face value.
Tickets were even listed for exclusive areas such as Arsenal's Diamond Club and Manchester City's Tunnel Club.
The Football Supporters' Association expressed serious concern regarding our findings, stating they confirm anecdotal reports of a widespread issue.
FSA chair Tom Greatrex noted that long-time supporters are increasingly struggling to secure tickets due to the prevalence of secondary market agencies.
While the Premier League considers ticketing primarily a club responsibility, it is in the process of enhancing support for anti-touting operations.
All tickets purchased were transferred digitally, with one instance occurring on the morning of the match, functioning as mobile passes. Seat numbers were only revealed upon receipt of the tickets.
For Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, we ordered an upper-tier seat behind the goal, but received a Club View ticket near the halfway line, which is typically reserved for £1,200-a-season members, complete with a complimentary pint.
Following the match at the Etihad, one digital ticket in our mobile wallet automatically updated to display a different seat number, seemingly for a Champions League fixture against Napoli.
Only two of the clubs we contacted responded to our inquiries. Arsenal reported canceling nearly 74,000 accounts attempting to obtain tickets through unauthorized means as part of their anti-touting efforts, while Everton stated they are conducting joint operations with Merseyside Police to combat both online and in-person touting.
Exploitation of Legal Loopholes Poses Risks to Fans
Reselling football tickets is illegal in the UK, except through club-approved exchanges, a measure designed to prevent clashes between rival fans.
However, the four companies involved in our investigation are registered abroad—in Spain, Dubai, Germany, and Estonia—thus evading UK law.
Despite this, they are actively targeting UK customers through online advertisements, and sellers from companies like Live Football Tickets, Seatsnet, and Football Ticket Net contacted us using UK phone numbers.
Ticombo, a firm registered in Germany, operates multiple offices in Engelberg, a small resort town in Switzerland, and was the only company to respond to our findings. They issued a statement asserting that they are a "trusted resale platform" and emphasized the importance of secondary markets for consumer choice.
Ticombo rejected any allegations of wrongdoing and criticized regulations that prohibit ticket resale, claiming they only serve to create monopolies for event organizers.
Greatrex highlighted the need to address the loopholes allowing foreign agencies to operate in a manner that could jeopardize fan safety, particularly if segregation is compromised.
Experiencing the Manchester Derby Among Loyal Fans
The unauthorized site we utilized provided numerous options for the Manchester derby just days before the match.
Choosing the cheapest available ticket, mine cost approximately three times the face value and was delivered via a link from a mobile phone a few days later, accompanied by strict instructions.
I was advised not to engage with security personnel and to enter the stadium precisely one hour before kick-off.