The UK government has announced it may protect certain UK national sporting events such as Wimbledon, Six Nations Rugby and cricket test matches from ticket touring but otherwise will not legislate against ticket touts.

The UK government has announced it may protect certain UK national sporting events such as Wimbledon, Six Nations Rugby and cricket test matches from ticket touring but otherwise will not legislate against ticket touts.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is to draw up a list of 'crown jewel' events which will be protected but expects promoters to do everything possible to protect real fans by tightening procedures to prevent resales - for example by requiring tickets to be personalised or carry photo ID.

The Government has said it will try and broker a deal between all parties involved in secondary ticketing including eBay, local newspapers who carry small ads and secondary ticketers to try and set up a voluntary code of practice. However, the resale of events tickets (save for existing legislation covering football and Olympic Games tickets) will not be made a criminal offence.