In a statement, the AFC revealed that two websites were discovered to be offering tickets for this summer's Asian Cup finals, despite the fact that official ticket sales for the event had yet to begin.

"These websites are illegally selling AFC Asian Cup 2007? tickets, which are copyrighted to and owned by AFC as the official organiser of the event, despite the fact that NONE of the AFC Asian Cup 2007? tickets for the four venues are yet available for sale and in no circumstances can be resold," read the statement.

"Furthermore, any sale of tickets can be undertaken only by AFC licensed and authorised ticket vendors.

"AFC has demanded in a letter to the Norwegian-run website and the Australian-run website to immediately cease the sale and or distribution of AFC Asian Cup 2007? tickets on their websites and desist from all infringement of AFC's rights in the future by March 5, 2007, failing which AFC will not hesitate to take full recourse to legal avenues to rectify the situation.

"The public are warned against purchasing tickets offered on these unauthorized websites as these are not legal and will not be honoured by AFC in any manner."

The AFC statement also revealed that information on the official sale of tickets for the Asian Cup will be announced soon.

The Asian Cup 2007 finals, which take place from July 7 to 29, will be co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

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