On 1 December 2017, the German Federal Cartel Office ("FCO") announced that it has terminated proceedings against the German Football Association ("DFB") investigating whether the DFB had abused its dominant position in the sale of tickets for matches of the German national team at the Word Cup 2018 in Russia. As a result of the investigation, the DFB has agreed to amend the conditions for ticket application.
Following numerous complaints, the FCO started an investigation in March 2016 when the DFB made the purchase of tickets for matches of the German national team in the 2016 European Football Championship in France conditional on paid membership of the German national team's fan club (which cost €40). At that time 19 of the 24 participating countries had made the purchase of tickets for matches of their respective national team conditional only on citizenship or residency criteria.
During the proceedings, the DFB argued that that requirement for fan club membership significantly helps to improve security and safety controls at stadia. After consultation with the FCO, the DFB is set to introduce an alternative way for applicants to obtain ticket eligibility: fans can now also apply for tickets by acquiring a "tournament membership", which is limited to the duration of the tournament, at a significantly lower price of €10.
Together with the loyalty (fan club) membership system which the DFB introduced in 2016, the FCO considers the alternative tournament membership represents a good compromise. It takes into account security considerations and football fans will now have the possibility to take a cheaper a temporary tournament membership if they do not wish to use the additional services of the fan club.
Co author: Franziska Sauer
All articles in the December edition of the Competition newsletter
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