Now Euroconsumers and Football Supporters Europe (FSE) have lodged a complaint with the Commission, alleging FIFA has violated Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which seeks to prevent companies from exploiting their dominant market positions. The complaint primarily concerns FIFA’s implementation of ‘dynamic pricing’ which causes ticket costs to rise when demand is elevated, whilst also seeing them fall when interest is lower. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the ticket prices and the methodology behind them on numerous occasions.

The FSE have remained unconvinced by his statements and have proceeded to submit a complaint to the Commission. Head of litigation at Euroconsumers, Marco Scialdone, said: “Football is a universal passion, but FIFA is treating it like a private luxury by exploiting its absolute monopoly over World Cup ticketing.

“By imposing opaque pricing, dark patterns to pressure buyers and exorbitant resale fees, FIFA is placing an unfair financial burden on millions of European fans. We are calling on the European Commission to intervene immediately with interim measures to halt these exploitative practices before the 2026 tournament begins.”

In response, a FIFA spokesperson told the Mirror: “FIFA has been made aware of statements concerning an apparent complaint, which FIFA has not formally received. FIFA is therefore not in a position to comment further at this stage.

“FIFA is focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing and prospective fans. As a not-for-profit organisation, the revenue FIFA generates from the World Cup is reinvested to fuel the growth of the game – men, women, youth – throughout FIFA’s 211 member associations globally.”

Nevertheless, other tickets have been priced at more than 100 times higher, with the most affordable publicly available ticket for the World Cup final purportedly beginning at $4,185 (£3,120), according to Euroconsumers and FSE.

Furthermore, FIFA has also faced accusations of “bait advertising,” which sees supporters enticed by the prospect of a $60 ticket, only to subsequently encounter tickets at substantially higher prices. FIFA has also faced accusations of failing to implement safeguards or limits on ticket prices subject to dynamic pricing, employing pressure selling techniques, and imposing a 15% charge on its resale platform.

FSE executive director Ronan Evain recently said: “For several months now we have urged FIFA to do right by fans and reconsider its aggressive and exploitative ticketing policies.

“FIFA’s failure to engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders yet again has left us with no option but to join forces with Euroconsumers in filing this complaint with the European Commission. FIFA point to their unconfirmed sales figures as validation of their unfair ticket practices, whilst the reality is they leave loyal fans with no other choice – pay up or lose out.”