Ticket site Viagogo has been suspended from appearing in Google's paid-for search results, after being found to be in breach of the search engine's advertising policy.
The site has caused controversy previously after accusations it sold tickets to people who might be denied entry to events and was profiteering from charity concerts.
Previously, the site appeared at the top of Google when users searched for tickets. However, following the announcement by Google it has now dropped down the rankings, competing with other similar companies for business.
"When people use our platform for help in purchasing tickets, we want to make sure that they have an experience they can trust," says a Google spokesperson.
"We take necessary action when we find an advertiser in breach of either and as such, we have suspended Viagogo as an advertiser.”
The ticket seller faced opposition last year when the UK Music trade organisation and various MPs published an open letter to Google asking it to drop Viagogo advertising.The company is also being taken to court by Britain's Competition and Market Authority (CMA), which says it is concerned with its business practices.
The company was ordered to give its business an overhaul last year, after the CMA took legal action against it. According to the CMA, Viagogo is ignoring its demands, and the Authority is now initiating proceedings for contempt of court.
According to a statement, the CMA says Viagogo is "still using some misleading ticket availability messages".
It also fails to display some seat numbers on the website as required, and "in some cases incomplete addresses of business selling tickets are being displayed to consumers". The CMA also said it was of the view that "the warning Viagogo gives to people that tickets with resale restrictions may not get them in to an event does not meet the requirements of the order".
Viagogo responded to the suspension by saying: "We were extremely surprised to learn of Google's concerns today. We are confident that there has been no breach of Google's policies and look forward to working with them to resolve this as quickly as possible."
Newshub.
