Companies owned by Town owner Marcus Evans are among those UEFA is suing for allegedly selling unauthorised hospitality packages at Euro 2016.

Evans’s company THG is offering hospitality packages which they say are “independent from any event organisers, governing bodies and venues” via its website.

“In order to protect consumers UEFA has repeatedly taken action against unauthorised sellers both in France and abroad,” UEFA said in a statement to The Guardian

“UEFA has previous obtained orders against other rogue sellers and UEFA is confident that it will obtain orders against these companies on this occasion as well.

“Continuing its policy of taking vigorous action to prevent unauthorised sales, UEFA has today announced that it has commenced proceedings against a number of companies alleged to be involved in the sale of unauthorised packages for UEFA Euro 2016 matches.

“Among the companies sued are British companies which are part of the Marcus Evans Investment group of companies which is owned by Marcus Evans, the owner of Ipswich Town Football Club.”

It’s far from the first time companies owned by Evans have fallen foul of an international tournament organiser for selling hospitality packages in competition to those offered by their official partners.

The organisers of the 2007 Rugby World Cup challenged the THG Group’s right to sell packages at their tournament without approval. They ultimately took the matter to the highest appeal court in France, which ruled in THG’s favour.

At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa an employee of THG was charged with ticket touting.

UEFA have failed to sell out their official hospitality at Euro 2016 with Cat One tickets going on sale shortly before the tournament and many boxes and executive seats empty throughout some games, including England's 1-1 draw with Russia and Italy's 2-0 victory over Belgium this evening.

Photo: Action Images

MickMillsTash added 21:38 - Jun 13 Would have thought that UEFA have a few more pressing matters to attend to at the moment than this
6

spanishblue added 23:38 - Jun 13 suppose i better be careful what i,m thinking as i don,t have parlimentary privilige,so up yours uefa
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BrettenhamBlue added 04:17 - Jun 14 UEFA have a lot of power, and wouldn't be sueing unless they believed they had a good chance of winning the case.
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Marcus added 06:08 - Jun 14 He might be a ticket tout but he's OUR ticket tout.
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jas0999 added 06:30 - Jun 14 This is a legal matter so best to reserve judgement. However, interesting that the official statement singles out Marcus Evans. Odd.
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trncbluearmy added 07:49 - Jun 14 Bryan Knights was right. Poor owner 10 years of stagnation
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woohoo added 08:20 - Jun 14 Of course we can rely on the fact that all of football's governing bodies always act within the law and there is never, ever any reason to doubt the integrity of their management....
5

RegencyBlue added 08:22 - Jun 14 Another hit on the reputation of our club. The Cobbolds must be turning in their graves!
3

bobbyramsey added 09:04 - Jun 14 ME is becoming a bit of a joke. He doesn't appear to be capable of running any of his businesses correctly or ethically.
5

corfu72 added 09:33 - Jun 14 Best to steer clear of this one lads.! We don't know the facts and never will,just concentrate on the playing staff and players coming into the club.COYB.
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Gilesy added 10:29 - Jun 14 "ME is becoming a bit of a joke. He doesn't appear to be capable of running any of his businesses correctly or ethically". I don't think it's the most unethical thing in the world to make money out of UEFA and as for running his business badly, I wish mine was an unsuccessful as his!
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carsey added 10:42 - Jun 14 Whatever the truth behind this which we will never know the mere fact that ITFC is tagged onto the story annoys me. I know football is full of dodgy people and always has been but Ipswich Town FC was not part of that group. The Cobbolds were a genuine football supporting family and real life gentlemen who ran the club in an honest way. Our reputation used to be for good football and good hospitality now it is neither.

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Seasider added 18:45 - Jun 14 Somebody up north asked me about Marcus Evans the other day,as they had never heard of him. I said he was a ticket tout made good,which is born out by the above. I presume due diligence on him,when he took over ITFC had already revealed this; as I recall that he had already upset the Tennis authority over touting at Wimbledon many years ago. This added to the Rugby Union,FIFA and UEFA episodes will mean that he will have difficulty in future, I would think, of being allowed to run official hospitality packages for these bodies. I expect to get official recognition from these bodies would involve paying out money,which we know from recent experiences with the football club he is loathe to do. When the above is added to his recent spat with HMRC over late payment of tax,together with the ongoing court case with Suffolk Constabulary in which they say they are owed nearly £100k;then I am a little uneasy at having this man owning ITFC. Not sure what Mr John and Mr Patrick would have to say on the matter,were they alive today.

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