After it was discovered that the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) was suspected of reselling tickets for the World Cup final in Russia this summer, and that the Zagreb police investigated the crowned football organization, HNS has said their piece.
“With regard to the media information that emerged on the subject of investigative actions conducted by DORH at the request of the police, related to the alleged resale of tickets for the World Cup matches in Russia, the Croatian Football Federation points out the following,” announces HNS on September 20, 2018.
“Respecting the confidentiality of the investigative activities and their content and irrespective of their purpose with which, unlike some media, we are not aware, we can state that there were no irregularities and misuse by the Croatian Football Federation and its leaders in the allocation and distribution of tickets for World Cup matches.
Given the tremendous interest and the relatively small number of tickets FIFA offers to World Cup participating states (for purchase, not for free), the Croatian Football Federation has made great strides so that the ability to buy these tickets can be distributed fairly among members of the ‘football family’ (players, team members, members of the Executive Board and the Assembly, county football federations and clubs and Federation sponsors) and leave part for free sale.
Incorrect information was that players had a pre-determined number of tickets that they should have received, and they did not have that number. On the contrary, they were primarily concerned that the needs of the representatives, as the most lucrative to buy these tickets at all, are fully met. We are sorry we have to repeat such general facts only because, if that’s true, someone anonymous, without the courage to stand behind their story, allegedly ‘heard’ something and part of the media so easily accepted such a story and sensationalized it. The Croatian Football Federation, as an organization, has not been able to resell tickets for the World Cup final or any other World Cup match in any way, which is easy to prove.
Of course, it is theoretically possible that some irresponsible individual, regardless of the source of the purchased tickets, abused FIFA’s rules and resold a ticket, over which HNS can neither influence or control. If there were any such cases, HNS could only welcome all actions for their discovery.
The Croatian Football Federation will, as always, be cooperative with the competent state bodies and expects that the actions in question do not work up any sensations, and in particular, do not prejudice the outcome of the investigative actions.”
