According to UK Sunday newspaper The Observer, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) confirmed it has launched an inquiry into claims that the details of 35,689 English fans who attended the 2006 World Cup were sold unlawfully for profit. Preliminary investigations suggest details of 7,200 England fans have been traded illegally.
"We have contacted Fifa regarding the allegations and will be liaising with the organisation further as we move forward with an investigation. Our initial enquiries suggest that the number of individuals affected is approximately 7,200,” said Mick Gorrill, head of enforcement at the ICO. The IOC is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to UK Parliament and regulates the Data Protection Act.
The investigation was prompted by claims in Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet last month that details of 250,000 fans who watched games at the 2006 tournament had been sold to ticket touts ahead of this summer's tournament in South Africa. Dagbladet reported it had obtained several emails in which a Match employee offers the lists for sale to a major player on the black market.
