Inside Liverpool’s Battle Against Ticket Touting and Organized Crime

Inside Liverpool’s Battle Against Ticket Touting and Organized Crime

Liverpool Football Club is intensifying its efforts to combat ticket touting and improper behavior both at Anfield and online. A dedicated team, including staff focused on touting and sanctions, is bolstered by matchday stewards ready to respond to touting incidents.

The club has invested heavily in data analysis to detect anomalies in ticket sales and distribution, with stricter verification checks on accounts receiving tickets. Due to the involvement of organized crime, key staff have spoken anonymously to reveal the scale of the issue.

Touts often use burner phones instead of transferring tickets to buyers. One tactic involves fans exchanging their passports for a phone containing the ticket, with a post-match meeting arranged to swap back. Others scan buyers in at turnstiles, avoiding ticket transfer to retain future sales credit.

Estimating the number of touted seats at Anfield is challenging, but officials believe it runs into thousands per game. Since the 1994 Criminal Justice & Public Order Act, unauthorized football ticket sales in England and Wales are illegal. Liverpool collaborates with Merseyside Police to secure criminal convictions against violators.

Source: The New York Times