Fifa has been accused of "misbehaviour" in its World Cup ticketing by resale platforms, which warn that such conduct could become widespread in the UK if a bill due for debate in Parliament today is passed.

The Sporting Events Bill was originally drawn up to make it easier for the UK to host one-off events such as the Olympics, but amendments tabled by peers could expand its powers to regular occasions such as Wimbledon and the FA Cup final.

Among its provisions is a ban on third parties reselling tickets, clearing the way for competition organisers to operate their own secondary markets – exactly as Fifa did during this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The proposal marks a significant shift for the UK, where secondary ticketing has long been a contested market. Platforms such as viagogo and StubHub have previously faced enforcement action from the Competition and Markets Authority over transparency failures, and football tickets for designated matches are already subject to criminal law restrictions on unauthorised resale under existing legislation. Fan groups and consumer bodies have for years campaigned against touting, arguing that resale platforms enable inflated prices, while the platforms themselves maintain that they offer fans a legitimate route to transfer tickets.

Fifa drew criticism for sky-high and dynamic pricing in its primary ticket sales, while also charging a 30 per cent surcharge on resales and remaining opaque about availability. Its president Gianni Infantino has defended the governing body's conduct.

"We've seen misbehavior by Fifa when they have full control over resale," StubHub International CEO Bob Kupbens told City AM. "When you allow these rights holders to own both the primary and the resale of their tickets it's been demonstrated that there's misbehavior that happens in the form of either price gouging or they're not fully transparent with customers."

Bill risks 'four-fold increase in ticket fraud'

StubHub International – which is not part of the same business as StubHub US, itself heavily criticised for allowing speculative selling during the World Cup – argues that banning third-party resale would also push consumers towards the black market, where they have no protections.

"You wind up moving transactions from a highly regulated, transparent, customer-friendly marketplace and into unregulated spaces like social media or other places that will attract either fraudsters or organised crime," said Kupbens.

"That's effectively what will happen if the Sporting Events Bill is amended in the way that it's been proposed. It's been proven in other markets where secondary ticketing is banned, in Australia and Ireland, that fraud rates go up four times. If you do the math through that in the UK, you end up with £1.2bn in fraud."

StubHub International insists it supports the "original intent" behind the bill, which began in the House of Lords and had its first reading in the Commons this week.

Beyond cracking down on ticket resale, the legislation also contains provisions to protect sponsors from ambush marketing and to allow local authorities to manage event logistics. It was designed to help the UK mount successful bids for events including the Olympics and the men's World Cup, as part of broader ambitions that include a potential 2040s North of England Olympics bid.

"We love the idea of the economic opportunity for the UK," said Kupbens. "But I think as soon as you add these amendments you risk massive fraud for consumers."