World Cup organizers, consumer group reach compromise on tickets

World Cup organizers and a consumer group reached a compromise that allows fans that return tournament tickets to get a full refund. Germany's consumer association had filed a legal challenge to the organizers' practice of refusing to refund the Ђ5 (US$6) service charge on returned tickets.

A compromise was reached late Tuesday after the German government intervened. Fans were required to pay for tickets even though they were not sure to get them because of high demand. Now, anyone requesting a refund before April 15 will get the handling fee returned.

The agreement covers so-called option tickets, those returned unsold from sponsors, sports associations and other bodies. The consumer group took its complaint to a Frankfurt court, which instructed the two sides to try to settle out of court. The court questioned the organizers' practice of selling option tickets.

Organizers expect to lose as much as Ђ1 million (US$1.18 million) because of the deal, vice president Horst Schmidt said Wednesday, reports the AP. I.L.