WASHINGTON – Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday his office will investigate FIFA over allegations the international soccer governing body pulled a bait-and-switch scheme with World Cup fans, delivering tickets with worse views than originally advertised.
“I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly,” Paxton said in a news release.
The announcement comes as Arlington and Houston are set to host World Cup matches in the coming weeks. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Paxton’s investigation.
The global soccer giant previously said early color-coded stadium seating maps were intended to be “guidelines” for fans rather than a precise layout of seats in each price category.
The FIFA inquiry is the latest in a series of publicly announced investigations and lawsuits Paxton has unveiled since launching his Senate campaign. A review last month by The Dallas Morning News found targets who called the investigations politically motivated, saying they were forced to respond to state demands even when cases produced little evidence of misconduct or no apparent outcome.
Paxton’s office declined to make him available for an interview or respond to questions from The News about his approach to publicizing investigations.
FIFA has drawn complaints from fans that the World Cup seems designed to soak them for as much as possible.
Complicated ticketing practices have left many soccer enthusiasts bewildered and angry.
The AG’s office said in its news release that fans are paying large sums to attend World Cup matches, with premium seats at the final topping $10,000.
Paxton’s office has received several consumer complaints, according to the release, prompting an investigation into whether FIFA violated state consumer protection laws by misrepresenting seat classifications at the time of purchase.