A CRACKDOWN on ticket touting ahead of the 2028 Uefa European football championship will form part of plans designed to make Britain the “go-to destination” for hosting major sporting events, the government said on Wednesday.

The unauthorised reselling of tickets for specific events, such as Euro 2028, could become a criminal offence under government proposals.

The changes are designed to make it easier for Britain to bid for, secure and deliver such events, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said, adding a new sporting framework is being developed to meet the requirements of international federations and event owners.

The government is considering potential bids to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 2040s and golf’s Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup in the 2030s.

Any attempt to host the Olympics for the first time since London 2012 would consider the potential cost, socioeconomic benefit and the likelihood of its success, the DCMS said.

It comes ahead of the European Championship, which will take place across Britain and Ireland in 2028, and follows a Bill backed by the Scottish Parliament designed to restrict ticket resales for the competition.