FRANKFURT, Germany, April 21 (UPI) -- The German Soccer Federation won a Frankfurt regional court ruling Thursday that will make unofficial transactions of World Cup tickets void.
The German Organizing Committee and the International Federation of Football Associations have established seven acceptable circumstances for transfer, including illness, absence of a visa, death, hardship, disaster or issues that prevent travel. Ticket exchanges are permitted among family members.
Resales must be conducted via the official football federation Web site, a resource previously unavailable, Deustche Welle reported.
The rules changed after soccer fan Bjorn Kracht bought two World Cup tickets online in September for $1,087, eight times their original price. The tickets contained personal information of the original owner and the federation refused to transfer the tickets to the new purchaser, prompting the original ticket holder to file a lawsuit.
For security reasons only the person named on each ticket will be allowed access to the stadiums when the monthlong World Cup kicks off June 9.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
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