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Texas has launched an investigation into FIFA over its alleged deceptive ticketing practices for World Cup games in the state.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Tuesday, June 9, that his office has launched an investigation into the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), alleging that it misled fans regarding the location and quality of seats sold for the upcoming World Cup matches.“I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly,” Paxton said in a statement. “Sports have a unique power to bring people together, and FIFA must understand that Texans take their competition — and their consumer rights — seriously.”The investigation comes just days before Texas is set to host several World Cup games in Dallas and Houston starting Sunday, June 14.Reports indicate that fans may have been misled about the locations of the seats they were purchasing, with one detailing how a fan bought “Category 1” seats, expecting premium views of the field, according to Paxton's office.However, Paxton's office said that after the purchase, FIFA allegedly adjusted the seat maps to move these seats to what was originally designated as “Category 2,” which has less optimal views of the field, and that the office received similar complaints.As part of the investigation, Paxton's office is looking into whether FIFA violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, whether the organization's representations regarding ticket seat locations and categories violated the Texas Business and Commerce Code, and whether FIFA misrepresented the seat classifications to consumers at the time of purchase.USA TODAY has reached out to FIFA for comment on the investigation, but has not heard back.Texas is not the first state to have launched an investigation, with the state attorney general offices in California, New York and New Jersey launching similar investigations.Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
