FIFA vice-president's son caught up in ticket scandal

John Bagratuni, dpa

FIFA is cooperating with the authorities in connection with illegal sales of World Cup tickets, but the ruling body did not want to say whether the probe is also directed at the son of Argentine football federation chief Julio Grondona.

Eighteen people were reportedly arrested over the past days in connection with the probe by Brazilian authorities. Scalping is a criminal offence in the World Cup host country.

Brazilian news reports said the authorities are looking into whether a FIFA official is involved and tickets from the FIFA contingent have been passed on illegally.

FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer told reporters the ruling body is assisting the authorities and would therefore not comment on the ongoing investigation. She said every World Cup ticket is personalised and can be sourced.

"We will analyse and source the tickets. We are validating, and then there will be sanctions," she said. "We are taking it very seriously."

The illegal practices have reportedly generated 2 million Reais (910,000 dollars) per game, the Brazilian reports said.

Fischer would not say whether the investigation also concerned Humberto Grondona, son of Argentine football boss Julio Grondona.

Humberto Grondona told TyC Sports television had he sold a few of the tickets he bought to a friend, who then gave them to another person. Grondona said he didn't dirty his hands and acted "in good faith."

FIFA said it is working together with authorities and consumer agencies to counter scalping.

Tickets have been personalised since 2006, and at that tournament in Germany FIFA executive member Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana lost all his positions after being exposed for selling tickets at three times their face value.