Why we don’t call ourselves “official”
Sources checked 3 October 2026 · 3 min read
You’ll see the word “official” a lot in hospitality. We don’t use it about ourselves, and we don’t offer hospitality for UK football or for football matches the law designates abroad. Here is why, in the words of the law and the advertising code.
Football tickets have their own law
Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as amended, makes it an offence to sell or dispose of a ticket for a designated football match without written authorisation. The current text reads:
“It is an offence for an unauthorised person to— (a) sell a ticket for a designated football match, or (b) otherwise to dispose of such a ticket to another person.”
Who counts as authorised is narrow:
“a person is “unauthorised” unless he is authorised in writing to sell or otherwise dispose of tickets for the match by the organisers of the match;”
An offence carries a fine on summary conviction.
Advertising counts as selling
The section doesn’t only cover the sale itself. It defines selling to include:
- offering to sell a ticket;
- exposing a ticket for sale;
- making a ticket available for sale by another;
- advertising that a ticket is available for purchase; and
- giving a ticket to a person who pays or agrees to pay for some other goods or services or offering to do so.
That last limb is the one that matters for hospitality: a ticket bundled with dining is still a ticket. So we don’t list, advertise or take enquiries for designated matches at all.
Which matches are designated — including abroad
The Ticket Touting (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2007 designates matches in England and Wales involving Football League, Premier League, Football Conference or League of Wales clubs, clubs based outside England and Wales, or national teams. It also reaches matches played abroad. Article 2(3) applies to a match played outside England and Wales involving:
“a national team appointed by the Football Association to represent England or appointed by the Football Association of Wales to represent Wales;”
“a team representing a club which is for the time being a member (whether a full or associate member) of the Football League, the Football Association Premier League, the Football Conference or the League of Wales;”
And, under paragraphs (3)(c) and (3)(d), any match that is part of a competition organised by, or under the authority of, FIFA or UEFA in which an England or Wales team, or one of those clubs, is eligible to take part or has taken part. We treat that as covering the World Cup, the Euros, the Nations League and the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, wherever they are played.
That is why our site has no UK domestic football, no England or Wales matches and no FIFA or UEFA competition matches. Ask us about a specific fixture and we’ll tell you straight whether we can help.
Source: The Ticket Touting (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2007, article 2 (opens in a new tab)
Advertising rules cover the word itself
The UK advertising code (CAP Code rules 3.52 and 3.53) says marketers must not:
“Claim that the marketer (or any other entity referred to), the marketing communication or the advertised product has been approved, endorsed or authorised by any public or private body if it has not or without complying with the terms of the approval, endorsement or authorisation.”
“Display a trust mark, quality mark or equivalent without the necessary authorisation.”
So you won’t see club crests, competition logos or partner badges on this site.
What we say instead
We tell you where your hospitality comes from — we source hospitality through venues, promoters and their appointed hospitality partners — and confirm exactly what’s available for your date before you commit.
The proposed resale price cap
Separately, the government has announced plans to cap ticket resale prices across live events. Its announcement of 19 November 2025 says:
“Ticket resale above face value will be illegal – this will be defined in legislation as the original ticket price plus unavoidable fees, including service charges”
These are plans for future legislation. We’ll update this guide when the rules are made.
Sources
- Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 166 (latest available revised version) (opens in a new tab)
- The Ticket Touting (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2007, article 2 (opens in a new tab)
- ASA / CAP — Official endorsements (CAP Code 3.52–3.53) (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK — Government bans ticket touting to protect fans from rip-offs (19 November 2025) (opens in a new tab)
Checked 3 October 2026. Venue rules, dates and guidance change; the version in force applies. General information, not legal advice. We’re not affiliated with the venues, organisers or bodies quoted. We source hospitality through venues, promoters and their appointed hospitality partners.