The UK government is preparing an about-turn on its opposition to a list of "crown-jewel" events where ticket re-sales would be banned, according to UK newspaper, The Guardian.
The government has so far resisted the sports' pleas to add ticketing to its special rules for broadcasting such events. Although the re-sale of football tickets is illegal, the purpose of that legislation is solely to maintain fan segregation and prevent a return of violence in stadiums. So far cricket, tennis and rugby have lost the argument for similar laws against ticket re-sales for events such as the Ashes, Wimbledon and the Six Nations.
The paper reports, however, that there has been coordinated lobbying from the secondary-ticketing industry and free-market MPs who insist that, once sold, it should be legal to offer tickets to the highest bidder.
It is understood that as a result culture secretary, Andy Burnham, will call for a wide-ranging consultation that will look not only at protecting consumers against rising prices in an economic downturn, but also at a "crown jewels" extension.
