ECB launches ticket tout campaign

The ECB, emboldened by a Supreme Court ruling against ticket touts, have launched a poster campaign against the resale of tickets for next summer's Champions Trophy and Ashes series.

Cricket fans could even face the threat of a ban from county grounds if they are caught selling tickets for personal gain during what promises to be a sought-after summer of international cricket.

Auction websites such as Seatwave and Viagogo will also be monitored according to a poster campaign under the slogan: "TOUTS OUT! Where did YOUR ticket come from?"

There has already been an unprecedented demand for Ashes tickets this year after England's recent successes.

A recent legal ruling by the Supreme Court promises to work in the ECB's favour. They are entitled to demand from ticketing websites the details of customers who are seeking to profit by reselling their Ashes tickets above face value.

An ECB spokesman said: "We want fans to understand that we are committed to eradicating ticket touting. Fans need to understand that we will make targeted interventions into the market place and will cancel tickets if we spot them being sold at inflated prices on ticketing websites."

Touts who resell tickets to concerts and sport events online faced losing their anonymity following a court ruling in November. In a case between the Rugby Football Union and Viagogo, the Supreme Court ruled that Viagogo must release names and addresses of people who resold tickets to England rugby matches on its site.

When the RFU monitored Viagogo in 2010-2011, the governing body found that tickets to its events were being sold for up to 20 times their face value, breaching its ticketing terms and conditions.

The RFU had led the way among governing bodies in the past by taking legal action, but it had previously been unable to address sites like Viagogo as the company offer anonymity to sellers.

Viagogo went into voluntary liquidation after a TV documentary criticised its methods. It now trades as Viagogo AG, based in Switzerland.