Spanish club Real Madrid announced taking a firm and decisive stance against the resale of season tickets and individual match tickets for all the club's matches in various competitions, through a new disciplinary code that includes deterrent penalties that may reach the final loss of membership and a ban from entering Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for 3 years.
The Royal Club's board of directors approved the new disciplinary code last Tuesday, which defines these potential violations and their disciplinary consequences, in a move that is not the first of its kind, as the club has repeatedly expressed its concern over this type of illegal activity that harms the interests of real fans.
A historic decision shakes Bernabéu.. Real Madrid announces unprecedented penalties
Article 10 of the new code, concerning extremely serious offenses, defined a comprehensive list of prohibited acts, including "unauthorized use, acquisition, offering, sale, resale, transfer, assignment, or commercial marketing of membership cards, season tickets, tickets, seats, credentials, codes, or access permits".
The behavior is considered an extremely serious crime when it affects a large number of titles or events, or is carried out in a concerted or organized manner, or through widely disseminated media, or is integrated into a brokerage or commercial marketing circle, or uses platforms, companies, agencies, or structures created for this purpose, or involves manipulation, forgery, or fraudulent concealment.
Precise criteria for detecting organized networks
The Royal Club considers any activity organized "when it demonstrates, based on its objective circumstances, sufficient coordination, structure, repetition, or substance to prove its integration into unauthorized use or a commercial circle".
In assessing violations, Real Madrid will take into account the source of the various members and their accessibility through the same person, group, or intermediary, in addition to the use of the same devices, payment methods, accounts, phone numbers, email addresses, or communication channels.
Consideration will also be given to the use of digital platforms, social networks, agencies, institutions, or brokerage services, as well as any other element that reveals coordinated action.
No need to prove the existence of an official organization
In a notable step, the new regulations clarified that "it will not be necessary to prove the existence of an official organization, identify all its members, or the member's personal participation in the final delivery of ownership", in a clear reference to tightening oversight and facilitating evidentiary procedures against violators.
Strict penalties reaching permanent ban
Given the seriousness of these violations, all those who may be targeted by the club for this type of action are subject to strict penalties starting with "temporary suspension of membership status for a period ranging from two to three years", and may reach "loss of membership status" and "final loss of membership status".
The penalties also include "banning violators from accessing the club's facilities for a period ranging from two to 3 years", a harsh blow to anyone tempted to speculate on the Royal Club's match tickets or exploit their membership for illegal commercial purposes.
This decisive step comes as part of Real Madrid's ongoing efforts to protect the rights of its members and real fans from speculators and intermediaries who exploit the high demand for match tickets to achieve illegal profits, at a time when the club seeks to ensure tickets reach their rightful owners at fair and transparent prices.