Bucharest police are cracking down on the illegal sale of tickets to the upcoming Steaua vs Chelsea match at massively inflated prices. Today, (March 4 ) the authorities announced that over the weekend several operations were carried out by police in the capital that resulted in the confiscation of 70 tickets for the Europa League last 16 clash at the National Arena on Thursday, March 7.

The purchase of tickets for sporting event with the express purpose of resale at a high price is forbidden under Romanian law, according to the police. In a statement, the police said that they would continue efforts to tackle ticket touts right up to the match.

Online tickets for Steaua supporters sold out within days of going on sale, with some 35,000 tickets sold in the first 24 hours. Steaua face the Chelsea superstars, last year’s Champions League winners, at the National Arena in Bucharest on Thursday, March 7, in the first leg of the last 16 tie of the Europa League. Some tickets will be available at the National Arena ticket office over the next few days, according to the local media. The second leg will be played at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in London on March 14.

editor@romania-insider.com