World Cup Ticket Sellers Still Waiting for FIFA Refunds
FIFA said it would refund sellers within 60 days.
Arik Shalmiyev, a 25-year-old Brooklynite, sold tickets to a World Cup quarterfinal match in Kansas City for over $10,000 after paying FIFA fees. However, he has been waiting for more than two months to receive his payment, along with earnings from two other sales. Shalmiyev is one of many soccer fans facing delays in obtaining refunds from FIFA’s official marketplace.
The governing body charges a 15% cut from both buyers and sellers, promising to reimburse ticket sellers within 60 days of a sale. Yet, some fans have not received their money despite being more than 60 days past the sale date. FIFA has explained the delays are due to high volume, manual review, and additional customer information requirements.
Fans like Shalmiyev and Bart McKay, a 57-year-old from Texas, have experienced inconsistent responses from FIFA’s customer service and frustration over the lack of transparency. Some fans, including Robert Forster, an attorney, have threatened legal action against FIFA for their alleged criminal negligence. State attorneys general have also raised concerns about FIFA’s practices, which have reportedly generated $15 billion in revenue for the governing body from the 2022 World Cup.
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