Desperate fans exchange cash for tickets outside stadiums as others trawl social media — illegal sellers at the World Cup are undeterred by police patrols and the watchful eye of CCTV cameras.
Other ticket less football fans have increasingly gathered at crowded stadium perimeters in Doha during the World Cup to haggle with scalpers, quietly pushing match tickets for popular matches for up to 10 times face value.
"A black market is taking shape," a scalper from France told Reuters, saying sales had earned him enough money to pay for his trip to the finals, plus a bonus.The man, who declined to be named, said he charged "the most dedicated supporters" a 1,000 per cent mark-up for tickets to sought-after matches featuring stars like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.Other experienced scalpers travelled to Doha to make money off soccer's showcase event, the first in the Middle East.
A Latin American diplomat in Doha said the "crackdown on resellers has been mild" with most, if not all, cases dealt with via fines.
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