Fans arrested for fake tickets

MBABANE – A bizarre incident unfolded at Mavuso Sports Centre on Saturday when two football fans were arrested for selling fake tickets during a thrilling double-header.

Moneni Pirates secured a 2-1 victory over Ezulwini United, while Mbabane Swallows suffered a 2-3 defeat to Young Buffaloes, with less than 2 000 fans in attendance.  Law enforcement officers have withheld the names of the two supporters until their court appearance.

 A source close to the matter revealed that the trouble began when a fan was questioned about the authenticity of their ticket at the entrance. After being pulled aside, the fan admitted to purchasing the counterfeit ticket from some individual.

On-duty police officers swiftly set up a sting operation, directing another supporter to buy a fake ticket from the sellers. The ploy worked, and police apprehended the pair on the spot, escorting them to Mbabane Police Station.

The source claimed the duo had been allegedly peddling fake tickets for some time, defrauding clubs of vital gate revenue. In crowded stadiums, some fans likely gained entry with these forged tickets, further robbing teams of their earnings.  

Banele Masondo, Football Manager for the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), confirmed that a case had been opened regarding the incident. “I can confirm that some fans, whose identities I don’t yet know, were arrested for selling fake tickets at Mavuso,” he stated. He added that the suspects were in custody and scheduled to appear in court today.  He said fans were strongly advised to purchase tickets through official platforms like Open Tickets or PLE’s verified channels to steer clear of ticket touts and ensure a proper match day experience.

Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni also verified the arrests, noting that the two individuals were detained on Saturday for distributing counterfeit tickets.  
To avoid falling victim to such scams, fans can securely purchase tickets from home via WhatsApp. They should text ‘PLE’ to +186 2203 4403, enter the required details as prompted, select the stadium and match date (For instance, MTN PLE Mavuso Sports Centre 120125), follow the on-screen instructions to complete the order.

This incident mirrors recent ticketing chaos in South African football. On February 1, 2025, during the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, over 100 000 fans squeezed into the 87 000-capacity venue due to fake ‘till-slip’ tickets. These flimsy forgeries, printed on plain paper without security features, were mass-produced by syndicates, forcing authorities to deny entry to legitimate ticket holders for safety reasons. Stadium Management SA (SMSA) CEO Bertie Grobbelaar, reported no arrests but announced that a new ticketing partner, Open Tickets, would be introduced from March 1 to combat fraud.  

On May 10, 2025, during the Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, police detained a man for selling sponsor-issued tickets outside the venue. This followed a ticketing error that led to 10 501 tickets being oversold due to a system glitch, sparking widespread fan frustration.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: