Ticket law bid for Rugby World Cup to be rejected

Ministers are concerned that the demands it would put on the police do not justify a law being passed – and that it would open the floodgates to every other major sporting and leisure event asking for similar treatment. That would be a blow to England Rugby 2015, which has been pushing hard for a law to be introduced, and comes a day after it emerged Manchester United have pulled Old Trafford out of the running to be a venue for the Rugby World Cup due to concerns over the likely damage to the pitch.

Ticket touting was outlawed at the London Olympics, but that is part of the guarantee every host government has to give to the International Olympic Committee. The International Rugby Board (IRB) asked for no such guarantee.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said the government would consider the request but said there were many obstacles.

Robertson said: “In an ideal situation, Rugby World Cup 2015 would have a ban on all the ticket touting and we will look at this.

“However, to pass any sort of primary legislation, you have to prove it is absolutely necessary. You just can’t pass laws on the off chance.

“In concert with the police, we would also have to be sure that law we pass is enforceable. On top of that, the third element is what the knock-on consequences of that would be, because, once you have done it for rugby, probably every other single large sports event will want it and every other music event.

“It also means significant demands on the police. There is quite a basket of issues. It is not as simple as a one-off application for a Rugby World Cup.”

England Rugby 2015 said it would continue to push for a change to the law.

Meanwhile, after Manchester United’s decision to withdraw Old Trafford, tournament organisers are now in advanced talks with Manchester City about holding matches at the Etihad Stadium. England 2015 are anxious to retain Manchester as a host city, even though the Etihad’s capacity is 28,000 smaller than Old Trafford’s 76,000.