Zurich, Sep 25 (DPA) FIFA’s legal affairs division has teamed up with international authorities to monitor the internet in an effort to combat illegal offers of tickets for the 2010 World Cup.
“Unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of the great appeal of this event by trying to use the internet to sell tickets they do not possess,” said FIFA in a statement Friday.

Football’s ruling body and its ticket handling partner MATCH warned consumers about any unauthorised ticket sales and the risk of purchasing fake tickets, which would result in the buyers not being able to access the stadium.

One of the measures put in place to to prevent forgery is to print the official match tickets only a few weeks before the event, which takes place in South Africa June 11 to July 11.

FIFA specifically cited the support received from the Police Central e-Crime Unit of Britain’s New Scotland Yard in the fight against unauthorised ticket resellers operating via the web.

“As part of a major operation orchestrated by the Police Central e-Crime Unit targeting all unauthorised online football ticket resellers, New Scotland Yard is shutting down websites selling unauthorised 2010 FIFA World Cup match tickets in violation of UK anti-touting laws,” said FIFA.