Section 166: Sale of tickets by unauthorised persons., Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

It is an offence for an unauthorised person to—

sell a ticket for a designated football match, or

otherwise to dispose of such a ticket to another person.

For this purpose—

a person is “unauthorised” unless he is authorised in writing to sell or otherwise dispose of tickets for the match . . . by the organisers of the match;

a reference to selling a ticket includes a reference to—

offering to sell a ticket;

exposing a ticket for sale;

making a ticket available for sale by another;

advertising that a ticket is available for purchase; and

giving a ticket to a person who pays or agrees to pay for some other goods or services or offering to do so.

a “ticket” means anything which purports to be a ticket; and

a “designated football match” means a football match of a description, or a particular football match, for the time being designated for the purposes of this section by order made by the Secretary of State.

An order under subsection (2)(c) may designate descriptions of football matches wherever played or when played at descriptions of ground or in any area specified in the order.

The power of the Secretary of State to make an order under subsection (2)(c) shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

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Section 32 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (search of persons and premises (including vehicles) upon arrest) shall have effect, in its application in relation to an offence under this section, as if the power conferred on a constable to enter and search any vehicle extended to any vehicle which the constable has reasonable grounds for believing was being used for any purpose connected with the offence.

The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument apply this section, with such modifications as he thinks fit, to such sporting event or category of sporting event for which 6,000 or more tickets are issued for sale as he thinks fit.

An order under subsection (6) above may provide that—

a certificate (a “ticket sale certificate”) signed by a duly authorised officer certifying that 6,000 or more tickets were issued for sale for a sporting event is conclusive evidence of that fact;

an officer is duly authorised if he is authorised in writing to sign a ticket sale certificate by . . . the organisers of the sporting event; and

a document purporting to be a ticket sale certificate shall be received in evidence and deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.

Where an order has been made under subsection (6) above, this section also applies, with any modifications made by the order, to any part of the sporting event specified or described in the order, provided that 6,000 or more tickets are issued for sale for the day on which that part of the event takes place.

Section 166: Sale of tickets by unauthorised persons.

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