Football: Commission targets Euro 2000 ticketing

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION said yesterday it was examining the ticketing arrangements for the Euro 2000 championship finals for compatibility with EU competition law.

The Commission, which intervened to force changes to the way tickets were sold for last year's World Cup in France, said it had not made up its mind about the case but welcomed a decision by Uefa, European football's governing body, "to make the bulk of tickets available to the general public".

"The Commission is assessing Uefa's proposals with a view to ensuring that tickets are offered to European consumers under fair and, to the extent that is reasonable, non-discriminatory arrangements," the EU executive said in a statement.

The Commission statement was issued three days before the 7 May deadline set by Uefa for applications for an initial tranche of 400,000 tickets for the general public.

Tickets for the finals being staged in Belgium and the Netherlands from 10 June to 2 July 2000 went on sale on 29 March.

The Commission noted a further 408,000 tickets would be put on general sale after the draw for the championships in December. Tickets unsold by national associations would be available from 1 March 2000.