FIFA investigated over World Cup ticket bait-and-switch, a Bexar County child predator sentenced to life, and Paxton warns the Big 12 Conference that sanctioning Texas Tech would expose it to more than $200 million in antitrust liability — here is what came out of the Texas Attorney General’s office this week.
Paxton Investigates FIFA Over World Cup Ticket Fraud Ahead of Texas Matches
With FIFA World Cup matches set to kick off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on June 14 and at NRG Stadium in Houston throughout the summer, Paxton launched an investigation into FIFA over allegations that the organization misled fans about the location and quality of seats they purchased.
Consumer complaints received by the OAG describe a bait-and-switch scenario in which fans purchased what they believed were Category 1 premium seats — paying top dollar for the best views of the field — only to have FIFA subsequently adjust the seat maps and reclassify those seats to what was originally designated Category 2, with less optimal sightlines. With premium seats at the World Cup Final topping $10,000, the stakes for Texas consumers are significant.
Paxton is investigating whether FIFA violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by misrepresenting seat locations and classifications at the time of purchase. The investigation will examine whether FIFA’s conduct violated the Texas Business and Commerce Code.
“I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly,” said Paxton. “Sports have a unique power to bring people together, and FIFA must understand that Texans take their competition — and their consumer rights — seriously.”
Texas fans who believe they were misled about World Cup ticket seat locations or categories are encouraged to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection.
Bexar County Child Predator Sentenced to Life Without Parole
Paxton’s office secured the maximum punishment allowed by law against Joe Suarez Jr., 71, of San Antonio — a life sentence without parole plus two consecutive 20-year sentences — after a Bexar County jury found him guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child and Indecency with a Child following four days of testimony.
The case originated in March 2016 when an 8-year-old child made an outcry of sexual abuse to a teacher at her school. Two additional victims subsequently came forward reporting chronic abuse by the same offender. The case was referred to the San Antonio Police Department and then to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, where it sat for years awaiting grand jury presentation. After the DA recused his office, the case was transferred to another district attorney’s office and ultimately to the OAG in late 2023.
OAG Investigator Sgt. Andres Alaniz conducted a thorough reinvestigation given the years elapsed since the original reports. In 2025 the charges were presented to a Bexar County grand jury and Suarez was indicted.
The evidence showed Suarez — a mariachi musician — offered mariachi lessons to children in the community to gain their trust before abusing them in his home and in the cab of his 18-wheeler. At trial, the jury heard from a child abuse pediatrician, a sexual assault nurse, an SAPD detective, an OAG investigator, a forensic interviewer, a child abuse expert, and family members of the victims.
Most powerfully, ten years after their initial outcries, the three victims testified before the court — facing their abuser and revealing what he believed they would never disclose. Their courage in the face of that testimony was the heart of the prosecution.
“My office worked tirelessly to put this child predator behind bars for life and secure justice for the victims of these heinous crimes,” said Paxton. “We are committed to standing up for victims of sexual assault and will use every tool available to us to ensure that child predators are prosecuted to the fullest extent that the law allows.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Ahrum Kim and Deanna Franzen.
Paxton Warns Big 12 Conference — Sanctioning Texas Tech Would Expose It to $200 Million in Antitrust Liability
Paxton sent a legal warning letter to Big 12 Conference leadership on behalf of its client Texas Tech University, making clear that any attempt to sanction Texas Tech for honoring a valid court order would constitute a per se violation of federal and state antitrust law and expose the conference and its member schools to treble damages exceeding $200 million.
The dispute arose from a June 8, 2026 Temporary Injunction Order issued by a Texas court in Sorsby v. NCAA, which enjoined the NCAA from prohibiting Brendan Sorsby from practicing, playing, or otherwise participating on Texas Tech’s football team during the 2026 season — subject to a two-game suspension. Texas Tech is not a party to that lawsuit. After learning the Big 12 and member schools were considering punishing Texas Tech for honoring the court order and continuing to support Sorsby as a student-athlete, Paxton’s office intervened.
The OAG’s letter made clear that any such sanction would constitute a horizontal agreement among competitors to disadvantage Texas Tech — textbook per se unlawful conduct under both state and federal antitrust law. The conference and member schools would face treble damages for lost football revenues, harm to alumni contributions, and damage to recruiting, in addition to attorneys’ fees. Any cancellation, forfeiture, or alteration of Texas Tech’s scheduled games would constitute breach of contract. Interference with Texas Tech’s sponsorship arrangements, ticket commitments, and commercial relationships would expose the conference to tortious interference claims.
“Texas Tech acted consistent with a lawful court order and no athletic conference has the right to punish a member institution for respecting the judicial process,” said Paxton. “Antitrust laws exist to prevent exactly this type of illegal coordinated effort to harm a competitor. Any attempt by the Big 12 to sanction Texas Tech for honoring the results of a lawsuit it was not a party to would carry serious legal consequences.”
For more information on actions from the Texas Office of the Attorney General, visit texasattorneygeneral.gov or contact [email protected].
