Potential heist of data from 250,000 World Cup fans sparks world probes

The personal information of some 250,000 fans who attended the 2006 World Cup in Germany may have been stolen and sold on the black market for more than $750,000, according to reports in the Norwegian and British media.

The information was reportedly stolen from a database compiled by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), soccer's global governing authority, to facilitate ticket sales through official FIFA outlets.

The mammoth data breach was first reported in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, which said the personal details of 50,000 Norwegian and Swedish fans – including former Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson and former Minister of Integration Jens Orback – were being peddled to the highest bidder.