Only a day after UEFA launched the sale of tickets for next year's Euro 2012 soccer showdown, fraudsters are already touting counterfeit tickets on the internet.

As UEFA president Michel Platini was officially launching the ticket sale at a ceremony in Warsaw, Tuesday, ticket touts were already selling fakes on the web.

The only legal way of purchasing the tickets is through the European football governing body’s official website, UEFA.com, but a number of fraudulent web sites have sprung up offering tickets at exorbitant prices.

Fans are being warned to be extra careful in their pursuit of seats for the championships which are being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

“UEFA.com is the only legal site on which you can buy tickets,” underlined Euro 2012's spokesman in Poland, Juliusz Gluski.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that there have been problems registering on the official site, owing to the sheer volumes of fans keen to snap up tickets. Places can be purchased right up until 31 March.

Gluski spoke out to reassure football fans that they won't be left in the cold.

“There is no principle here of the early bird catching the worm,” he said, assuring that registration for tickets will take place until the end of March, with a lottery for tickets taking place in April. (nh/pg)