Trinidad's PM to intervene in World Cup ticket sales.
By: Loren Brown (AP).[/size]
Trinidad (AP) -- Trinidad's prime minister said Thursday his government will intervene in the sale of World Cup tickets amid allegations of cronyism and price gouging against a leading soccer official.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning's comments came in response to allegations published by the Trinidad and Tobago Express charging that the sole agency selling World Cup tickets in the country was owned by the family of FIFA vice president Jack Warner, a senior adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
That connection prompted allegations of unfair practices among some fans eager to watch their national team makes its first World Cup appearance at this year's tournament in Germany.
"The government has to respond to all of the calls we've been having from the national community, people who have supported football from the inception to now who wish to go to Germany and are prepared to make their own arrangements," Manning said.
The Warner family's agency, Simpaul Travel Service Ltd., offers a $4,785 travel package that includes tickets for three games, hotel accommodation for 12 nights and team souvenirs, according to Simpaul's Web site. Tickets cannot be purchased separately.
Fans who don't want the package deal may purchase tickets directly from FIFA. The most expensive tickets for all three of Trinidad's first-round games would total $363, according to the FIFA Web site. But the tickets are sold only to winners of a FIFA ticket lottery.
Manning said he was waiting for a report on the matter from Roger Boynes, Trinidad's minister of sports and youth affairs.
Warner acknowledged in a Tuesday news conference that he owned Simpaul, but said the criticism was personal and political.
"It is not a crime to be successful, even for people like me," Warner said.
Warner also denied Simpaul has exclusive rights to the country's allotment of World Cup tickets.
"No World Cup tickets of any category or price has been assigned to Simpauls or to any other organization and/or person in Trinidad and Tobago," he said.
Some fans were angry about the ticket situation.
"This reeks of cronyism. There is clearly a conflict of interest here," said Trevor Sebastian of Chagunas, 35, who owns a clothing store. "Why should someone with such a high position in FIFA be the only one selling tickets?"
Others said the price was too high.
"I will just stay home and watch the game on TV," said Elaine Pickering of Arina, a 25-year-old office clerk. Trinidad's Soca Warriors play Sweden, England and Paraguay in the first round of the World Cup, which starts June 9.
Trinidad, home to just one million people, will be the least populated country taking part in the 32-nation tournament. It is the fourth Caribbean team to reach the World Cup, following Cuba in 1938, Haiti in 1974 and Jamaica in 1998.