The case against Joseph Johnson, the uncle of a Liverpool FC first-team player, sheds light on a massive and organized ticket touting scheme that operated to the detriment of genuine club supporters. The court heard evidence alleging that Johnson handed over a "large amount" of match tickets to touts in exchange for cash and that he colluded with staff in the club's ticket office. The prosecution claims that Johnson, who allegedly referred to himself as "Billy big balls," exploited his position to sell passes for highly sought-after away games at prices reaching up to £400 each, reports The WP Times citing the Liverpool Echo.
According to the court, Johnson could not have carried out the sale of such a large volume of tickets without direct collusion with LFC ticket office staff. Insiders allegedly helped him bypass internal distribution rules, granting him access to scarce passes. A key element of the scheme involved creating more than 1,000 fictitious LFC memberships using false names and details. This allowed the defendant to fraudulently accumulate the necessary loyalty points required to purchase tickets for the most popular games, which were then diverted for profit. The illegal operation continued for several years, generating "hundreds of thousands of pounds" in profit for Johnson, while simultaneously forcing honest supporters to pay exorbitant tout prices or lose the chance to see their team play. Johnson faces charges that include fraud and likely conspiracy to defraud. The trial is ongoing at the Liverpool Crown Court.
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