Irrésistibles Français members excluded over alleged World Cup ticket resales | OneFootball

According to Ouest-France, tickets reserved for France’s supporter sections at preferential rates were allegedly resold at far higher prices, angering fan groups.

Seats made available to associations for as little as 52€ were said to have been flipped for several hundred euros. During the 3-1 win over Senegal at MetLife Stadium, fans reported seeing around 30 Senegal supporters and other foreign spectators in an area designated for French fans, with similar scenes said to have occurred in Philadelphia against Iraq, a 3-0 victory.

These supporter tickets are not nominative, they are assigned under the names of associations or the “Famille du football FFF”. While not a new phenomenon, some fans say they noticed it at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the tournament’s high prices could have intensified the practice.

Olivier Chicha, president of Baroudeurs du sport, said the practice is particularly troubling because discounted allocations are intended for groups that work year-round to sustain support for Les Bleus, who then feel undermined by profiteers.

Associations say they are now closely monitoring ticket movements. Les Irrésistibles Français, the main France supporters’ group, have warned of sanctions, with president Hervé Mougin saying they are actively pursuing offenders and that consequences will follow. RMC reports that some members were identified and excluded from Les Irrésistibles Français before France’s match against Norway on Friday at 21:00, largely involving new members.

Source: L'Équipe