DFB eases conditions for purchase of tickets for World Cup 2018

The Bundeskartellamt has terminated its administrative proceeding against the German Football Association (DFB) which it had initiated on the suspicion that the association had abused its dominant position. Before this DFB had agreed to ease conditions for the application of tickets for matches of the German national team in the World Cup 2018.

The application for a ticket from DFB's ticket allocation for the European Cup 2016 or for away matches in World Cup qualifying was conditional on the applicant being a member of the national team's fan club. Membership costs an annual fee of 40 euros. The Bundeskartellamt had initiated an administrative proceeding against DFB following numerous complaints that the football association had made the ticket application conditional upon membership of the fan club.

After consultation with the Bundeskartellamt DFB is now to introduce an alternative way to meet the condition for ticket application. Fans can now also apply for a ticket for the World Cup 2018 by acquiring a tournament membership which is limited to the duration of the tournament at a significantly lower price of ten euros.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt: "For fans merely wanting to buy tickets, this membership is an additional cost burden. On the other hand, the DFB has made it clear to us that membership in the prescribed form can significantly help to improve security in the stadium. We have taken these arguments very seriously. Together with the loyalty system which DFB introduced in 2016, the tournament membership is a good comprise. This takes full account of security considerations and the football fans will now have the possibility to decide in favour of a temporary membership for a fee of ten euros if they do not wish to use the additional services provided by the fan club.”