Referee among two arrested over identity fraud to obtain Villarreal CF tickets | OneFootball

Two men, aged 32 and 23, have been arrested in Vila-real on suspicion of identity theft and document forgery, one of them a football referee, in an alleged scheme to secure Villarreal CF season tickets and discounts.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the inquiry began after Villarreal detected manipulated tickets at Estadio de la Cerámica and alerted the Vila-real police station.

Officers discovered the suspects bought tickets via the official platform, then altered barcodes, QR codes and purchase references for resale. The modified tickets were pushed on resale sites and second-hand apps, sometimes bundled as free add-ons, breaching price limits.

One arrestee was a referee who allegedly exploited his role to obtain personal data and documents from young players, which were then used to process under-25 passes and discounts.

Investigators also found that one suspect registered 18 people as members or season-ticket holders as a supposed Valencia scout group, using photocopied ID cards from individuals, some minors, without their knowledge.

Both men were released with charges after giving statements, and the case has been sent to the decanato of the Vila-real Palace of Justice. Ticket resale is classed as a serious infringement and can bring fines from 601 to 30,000 euros.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo