Fresh World Cup fury as fans face 775 PER CENT price hike after ticket scandal: 'This is a shakedown'

Soccer fans and politicians are up in arms after reports emerged that train tickets from New York to MetLife Stadium at this summer’s World Cup could rise from $12.90 to more than $100.

FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, has been accused of a ‘shakedown’ over the news, which comes after ticket prices sparked outrage across the world.

According to the Athletic, New Jersey’s NJ Transit is planning to charge more than $100 for a return ticket between New York’s Penn Station and MetLife Stadium for World Cup games.

The home of the New York Jets and Giants will host eight matches this summer, including the final on July 19.

The 18-mile journey from Penn to MetLife typically costs $12.90 – for a return ticket – and that was the price charged for last year’s Club World Cup final.

But this summer, fans face an astonishing hike of 775 percent. According to The Athletic, there is not slated to be a discount offered for seniors, children or disabled passengers.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has come under fire for the cost of attending the World Cup

Though NJ Transit insists train ticket prices are yet to be ‘finalized,’ New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill has already insisted that the cost of hosting World Cup games will not be ‘will not be borne by’ ordinary taxpayers.

‘One of the key things I wanted to make sure is that we are not going to be paying for moving the people who are viewing the World Cup on the back of New Jersey taxpayers and New Jersey commuters,’ Sherrill said.

But the move has sparked yet more criticism, including from New York governor Kathy Hochul and Democratic senator Chuck Schumer.

‘FIFA is set to reap nearly $11billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill,’ Schumer, a New York senator who is also minority leader of the Senate, said in a statement.

‘NJ Transit may be forced to charge fans an eye-popping $100-plus for a train ride that normally costs $13, because FIFA’s hosting agreement dumps added transportation and security costs onto states and cities while FIFA keeps the revenue from tickets, broadcasting, and concessions.

‘That is not a partnership, that is a shakedown because World Cup tickets already cost fans a fortune. I am calling on FIFA to step up and cover transportation costs for host cities and states.’

Hochul echoed those sentiments, writing on social media: ‘The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible. 

‘Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me.’

‘[This] is a shakedown… World Cup tickets already cost fans a fortune,’ Chuck Schumer said

Train services to MetLife will be even more important this summer, given parking around the stadium will be significantly reduced for the World Cup. 

As detailed by The Athletic, FIFA will pocket the money from tickets, broadcast, concessions, sponsorship and official parking, with president Gianni Infantino estimating FIFA will take home around $11bn in revenue.

Host cities, meanwhile, are responsible for funding ‘safety, security and protection’ as well as public transportation costs.

A spokesperson for NJ Transit told the Athletic: ‘The ticket prices for match day travel have not been finalized and any reference to cost would be unconfirmed speculation.

‘However, as the Governor clearly stated at an earlier press conference this morning with NJ Transit, the cost for the eight matches will not be borne by our regular commuters.”