The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has written to the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association demanding them to seize the sale of conditional tickets for the upcoming Coca-Cola Games.
FCCC chief executive Joel Abraham, at a press conference yesterday, said the sale of three-day tickets for the Fiji Finals breaches the FCCC Act 2010.
“It has come to our attention that the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association has been engaging in the sale of event tickets specifically requiring the purchase of a three day grandstand tickets instead of offering an option of daily attendance tickets,” Abraham said.
Fans wanting to watch the Games from the grandstand have been forced to purchase three-day tickets, even if they want to watch the event for a day.
“This practice is a direct violation of section 87E of the FCCC Act 2010 which prohibits the refusal to provide goods and services unless other goods or services are also purchased.
“Potentially, also violates section 76 of the Act which prohibits unconscionable conduct.
“We have received confirmation that people have started purchasing these tickets, however, the ticket prices have not been advertised yet on the organisers website as per our preliminary investigations.”
Abraham confirmed writing to the association and further action would be taken if the conditional sales do not seize.
“Due to the seriousness of this issue, we have issued a formal demand notice to the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association to immediately seize and resist this unlawful action.
“If the association fails to abide by this directive, FCCC reserves the right to initiate proceedings against the association to compel compliance of the law to seize conditional selling practise and potentially charges will be laid for breaches of the FCCC Act,” Abraham concluded.
In response. Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association acting secretary Biu Colati said ticket sales had not started.
“Ticket sales have not begun. We have not done anything that we think is unlawful,” Colati said.
“We are still deciding on the ticket price. Officially, when the ticket price is determined, then any conversations can start.
“It’s good in a sense that they(FCC) have said, what they have said. We haven’t determined anything.” Colati added fans had the option to purchase daily tickets on the embankment.
“Talking about daily admissions, we also comply to that, as our embankment tickets are going on a daily basis.
“We have been asked to come up with the daily tickets.
“If our grass embankment is $10, and concrete is $15 then our grandstand would be around $20 which will be more.”
He said schools had opted for the three-day package deal.
“We have gathered from schools that they do not want the daily sales.”
Colati said he was surprised FCCC didn’t say anything as the same package was used last year.
“This package deal, they didn’t raise anything last year. I do not get it why they are coming in this year as last year it went well with everyone.
“We will now be reviewing our ticket sales as we had been following a trend that we had followed.”
The Coca-Cola Games will be held at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on May 2-4.
