The Business of Events Management

International Iran says entire ticket allocation for World Cup withdrawn days before tournament 9 June 2026.  Iran's ​football federation says that its ⁠ticket allocation for the World Cup has been pulled, leaving supporters ​who ⁠have already ‌made travel plans unable to ‌attend.

Football Supporters Europe files a formal complaint against Fifa over "excessive ticket prices" and "unfair purchasing conditions" for the World Cup.

The Games, scheduled for France's Alpine region in five years, are
shrouded in ecological debate, as the citizen opposition group
Collectif Citoyen JOP 2030, accompanied by elected officials, has
taken its protest to the United Nations, claiming a process without
environmental democracy.

A petition has been launched in opposition to Visit Saudi, the tourism board for Saudi Arabia, sponsoring the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, due to the nation's poor human rights record for women and LGBTQ+ people.

In another blow to Sapporo's dreams of hosting the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, residents in the region have voiced their opposition in a fresh poll, as two-thirds of them are against the Hokkaido capital's bid.

There’s been controversy over restrictions on fans and players in Qatar - and how they've responded.

August 9 – Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm is to boycott this year’s World Cup over host nation Qatar’s human rights record.
The Gulf state was controversially awarded the tournament back in 2010 and its opening match is now just over three months away
Lahm was captain of the German national side when they won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and now works as the German FA’s tournament director for EURO 2024 being staged in his homeland. Read more …

A hearing involving three human rights protesters who interrupted the lighting of the Olympic Flame in Athens has been delayed amid
accusations that Greek authorities were wary of embarrassing China on the eve of the Winter Olympics here.

A flash mob of 200 protesters, including children as young 1.5 years old, spelled out the word 'RESIST' in 30-foot-tall letters in a public park at the Trump National Golf Club near Los Angeles.

FIFA Censors Iranian Fans examines alleged broadcast restrictions, stadium protests, and political tensions during Iran’s World Cup matches

December 18 – In an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, European lawmakers have expressed “grave concern” over the hosting of the 2034 World Cup by Saudi Arabia.
Led by Danish MEP Niels Fuglsang, about 30 members of the European Parliament issued a warning to the football supremo, expressing their “grave concerns regarding the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.” The lawmakers argue that the decision undermined “the principles upon which FIFA was founded.”…

Barclays has suspended sponsorship of all Live Nation festivals for 2024 – including Isle of Wight – over boycotts related to its links with Israel.

A group of 35 nations are expected to demand that the International Olympic Committee bans Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris 2024 Olympics after an international summit, but Poland's Sports Minister suggested that a refugee team of dissidents could compete as a "compromise".

By Samindra Kunti in Al Khor
November 28 – Qatari fans staged a protest of their own, targeting Germany by holding pictures of the former Germany player Mesut Özil while covering their mouths during the match against Spain.
In a protest against FIFA’s ban of the OneLove armband, the Germans covered their mouths before their opening match with Japan, but on Sunday local supporters fired back holding sketches of the former Arsenal player while covering their mouths.

August 15 – With the World Cup in Qatar just three months away, Human Rights Watch has stepped up its campaign to urge FIFA and the host nation to improve compensation for migrant workers and their families.
The group has called for a “comprehensive remedy programme for workers who suffered serious harms, including deaths, injuries, and wage theft” while working on World Cup-related projects.

By Samindra Kunti in Doha
March 31 – The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness slammed FIFA for staging the World Cup in Qatar and the host country for its record on migrant workers and the LGBT Community.

Human Rights Watch have launched a video series with
Chinese-Australian artist Badiucao, protesting censorship of athletes
at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

The President of the Bruce Springsteen fan club in Spain, Joan Colet, yesterday (13 June) launched a petition on change.org calling on the Spanish Congress and Government to take on for-profit secondary ticketing websites. The fan club – known as the ‘Stone Pony Club’ – demands that the Spanish Congress and Government legislate against companies, …