With PSV's current sporting successes, the chance of black-market tickets is also increasing. The demand for grandstand tickets is high and most matches are sold out. In order to guarantee safety and not to dup regular supporters, PSV is fighting the illegal trade.
The offering or reselling of tickets is prohibited by the KNVB standard conditions, which include PSV ticket sales. Those who do so anyway risk an eighteen-month stadium ban in accordance with national guidelines. In addition, the buyer of an illegally resold ticket runs the risk of not getting into the stadium, but losing his or her money. Moreover, if problems arise in the stands because away fans are among the home supporters, this can seriously harm the club and well-intentioned supporters, for example if sections have to remain empty for punishment at the next match.
PSV therefore makes a moral appeal to everyone not to resell tickets without the club's involvement. For league matches (season tickets), PSV Resale is the only platform that legally facilitates resale. The club then receives the details of the visitor and the season ticket holder is refunded 1/20th of the cost of his ticket. Resale does not apply to European matches. Resale in the private sphere, i.e. not for profit, is allowed, as long as no supporters of the opposing team end up in the home stands.
"Hospitality and security are spearheads in our policy. It is important for us to know who we have in our stadium. In recent weeks we have written to several people who have resold tickets and one even who had forged a ticket. Those people have now been banned from the stadium," said Marcel Brands, general manager of PSV.
PSV takes fraud highly. "In the regular preparation meeting with UEFA prior to every European match, the question is immediately asked whether there has been fraud with tickets," Brands continued. "Are there fake tickets, is there black trading? If something happens with a resold ticket, we have an issue altogether. As a club, we carry the responsibility. So don't resell your card, because you dupe your club."
Tickets for PSV can only be bought through the club. On sites such as Marktplaats, Viagogo and Ticketswap these are illegal resales. The Ticketing Department actively searches for black market trade and also takes action when buyers report that they have paid more for their ticket than the amount stated on it or when the entry system detects that the barcode of a ticket has already been used by a visitor who was through the gates earlier. Unfortunately, for those who have missed out on a ticket, the message is: resign yourself to a match being sold out and watch it at home in front of the tube, or socializing with friends at the pub. But don't give black marketeering a chance.