FIFA Faces Criminal Complaint Over World Cup Ticket Offer

The FIFA World Cup trophy

Photographer: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Switzerland’s gambling regulator has filed a criminal complaint with authorities against FIFA, following a preliminary probe into sales of blockchain-based tokens linked to World Cup tickets.

Gespa, which also oversees lotteries and sports betting, said the FIFA Collect platform constituted “gambling services that are not licensed in Switzerland and are therefore illegal,” according to a statement on its website.