Andre Low from Workers’ Party has decried scalping of the upcoming Singapore-Thailand football match this weekend.
“More than 4,000 home-supporter tickets for the Lions sold out in a short time,” Low wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday (Aug 13).
Citing The Straits Times, he highlighted that a pair of tickets for the match had reportedly been listed for $1,500.
“Is it finally time to reconsider regulating ticket resale, scalpers, and bots?” the Non-Constituency MP asked.
Tickets for the first leg of the Lions’ Asean Championship semi-final against Thailand at the Jalan Besar Stadium sold out just 30 minutes after sales opened.
“Scalping is parasitic. It creates nothing. It contributes nothing,” Low said. “It exploits genuine supporters and drives prices beyond their reach.”
While it is unclear if bots were involved in the shortage of tickets for fans, Low felt that it “would not be unusual” if they were.
Recalling a parliamentary question he raised in May, Low said that he had asked if the Government would reconsider its view that “anti-scalping laws are unwarranted and consider legislation targeting bots used to buy tickets in bulk”.
In a written answer, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said: “Government policy does not prohibit the resale of goods and services in Singapore, including that of concert tickets.”
The Government’s approach is to safeguard consumer from unfair trading practices and scams through public education, removal of resale listings that are suspected scams, among other methods.
Anti-botting legislation is difficult to enforce effectively, DPM Gan explained.
In his Facebook post on the Singapore-Thailand football match, the NCMP reiterated: “Is it finally time to reconsider regulating ticket resale, scalpers, and bots?”
He said: “Singapore could act against attempts to evade purchase limits, cap resale at the amount originally paid, and give resale platforms clear legal duties.”
Addressing other users on social media, Low asked: “Fans whose plans change should be able to recover what they paid. What rules would you support?”
FAS: We do not condone ticket scalping
Lions defender and son of Fandi Ahmad, Irfan Fandi, said on X that he felt for “genuine and loyal fans” who had wanted to attend the game.
“This shouldn’t be happening. #SayNoToScalpers.”
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) also addressed the topic in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“We’ve seen resale listings circulating online. We do not condone ticket scalping and strongly urge fans not to purchase tickets from unauthorised resellers,” FAS stated.
Tickets may not be transferred or resold without the promoter’s prior written permission, the association added.
“If you missed getting tickets, join us instead at a Watch Party and experience the semi-final alongside fellow Lions fans – for both the home and away games.”
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khooyihang@asiaone.com
