Qatar announced the first arrests of World Cup ticket sellers on Monday, arresting three foreigners outside official ticket centers in Doha.
Six days after the start of the tournament, the Interior Ministry said, “three people of different nationalities” were arrested and are now facing criminal proceedings.
The ministry posted a statement on Twitter, but did not specify the nationalities of those arrested, saying the men were caught “selling tickets” outside an “official outlet”.
Queues form daily outside FIFA’s main ticket center in central Doha, with people hoping to buy tickets for the coveted match.
According to the statement, those arrested could face fines of up to 250,000 reais ($68,000) for each ticket they sold.
FIFA and the Qatari government have repeatedly warned against counterfeit World Cup merchandise.
Last week, authorities reported the seizure of 144 fake World Cup trophies.
Authorities have previously targeted fake clothing using official World Cup logos and car number plates illegally using World Cup imagery.
Last year a factory producing perfume bottles bearing the World Cup brand was attacked.
AFP
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