AT least 100 NFL stars face a major punishment over a Super Bowl ticket scandal which has rocked the league.
An investigation found that some employees – coaches and club staff included – sold their tickets to a “small number of bundlers”.
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They then worked with a reseller to move the tickets on for inflated prices. NFL players are allowed to buy two tickets at face-value.
When the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas in New Orleans, prices ranged from $950 to $7,500.
But on resale sites, some tickets were going close to $57,000. The average price of a Super Bowl ticket in the final weeks leading up to the game were $8,076, CBS say.
According to ESPN, guilty players face a possible fine and suspension if they refuse to pay and will also lose the right to their allotted tickets to the next two Super Bowls.
But stars playing in the game will still have the opportunity to buy seats.
No player, coach or team who violated the policy were named but some people have already shelled out to avoid missing playing time.
Players violating the agreement are said to be subject to penalties including fines of one-and-a-half-times the face value of the tickets.
And other team employees who violated the policy will reportedly be fined two times the face value of the tickets.
Reports suggest players and employees who had a “greater role” – by working directly resellers “face increased penalties”.
“Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the policy,” read a memo, sent to teams by the NFL – revealed by ESPN.
“This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less.
“We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of “bundlers” who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.”
