By Benjamin Parkin, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A man was arrested in Rio de Janeiro for selling World Cup tickets above the value set by FIFA. The Argentinean national was selling eight tickets to see Argentina vs. Bosnia on June 15th for R$1,300 each, and Chile vs. Spain on June 18th for R$1,200, both taking place Rio. The value set by FIFA is between R$30 and R$350, and it is a crime to sell them for above the value printed on the ticket.
He was caught in the act on Avenida Nossa Senhora da Copacabana by police from the Special Delegation of Support for Tourists (DEAT). Police found him after seeing an advertisment on the Internet. He was arrested for ticket scalping (or touting), punishable by one to two years imprisonment and a fine, under the Statute of the Supporter.
On Monday, a university student was also arrested by Civil Police for selling two tickets in a shopping mall in the Zone Oeste (West Zone) of Rio. The 28-year-old was selling two student tickets for R$9,000 each, and he also had two fake student ID cards to go with them.
FIFA released the last 180,000 tickets for the World Cup at midnight yesterday, selling 180,000 in total. However, tickets continue available through Fifa’s online resale platform at http://www.fifa.com/tickets.
Read more (in Portuguese).
* The Rio Times Daily Updates feature is offered to help keep you up-to-date with important news as it happens.