diff --git a/multiplayer-todo.md b/multiplayer-todo.md
index d631d695..fa302f16 100644
--- a/multiplayer-todo.md
+++ b/multiplayer-todo.md
@@ -1133,7 +1133,7 @@ New `--role=client-reconnect` grades the returning player: not a spectator, owns
 | 7.1 `[D:1.2]` | **IN PROGRESS.** GodotSteam integration and custom export templates — **client *and* headless server** | Pinned build inputs and the reproducible validation command are documented; awaiting the custom binaries/SDK access |
 | 7.2 `[D:7.1]` | **IN PROGRESS.** `NetTransport` boundary extracted with ENet and feature-gated `steam_transport.gd` (`SteamMultiplayerPeer`, SDR); advertising waits for `ISteamGameServer` work | `NetworkManager.host/join(..., transport)` selects explicitly; stock builds reject Steam without ENet fallback |
 | 7.3 `[D:7.2]` `[P]` | `server_browser.tscn` via `ISteamMatchmakingServers` | Internet, LAN, favourites and history lists all populate |
-| 7.4 `[D:7.2]` `[P]` | Auth tickets in `hello` → `BeginAuthSession`; Steam identity in the roster; persistent ban list | Ownership, VAC and ban state verified server-side |
+| 7.4 `[D:7.2]` `[P]` | **IN PROGRESS.** `TicketVerifier` now supports a synchronized backend ban decision before single-use ticket consumption; auth tickets in `hello` → `BeginAuthSession`, Steam identity in the roster and persistent ban list remain | `server/domain/auth.go` and adversarial tests reject banned identities without consuming their ticket and allow a later verification after unban; GodotSteam auth integration, server-side VAC state and durable ban storage remain |
 | 7.5 `[D:7.2]` `[P]` | Feature-gate every Steam call behind `OS.has_feature("steam") and ClassDB.class_exists("SteamMultiplayerPeer")`; verify the ENet path end to end | Non-Steam build is fully functional |
 | 7.6 `[D:7.4]` | **IN PROGRESS.** Pure Go `AuthCoordinator` models pending/accepted/rejected/cancelled backend auth sessions around the single-use verifier, including maintenance expiry sweeping; `store.PostgresSessions` persists only token digests, the authenticated API can inject that durable session backend, and `POST /v1/session/steam` issues sessions only from an injected verified-identity provider | `server/domain/auth.go`, `server/store/session_sql.go`, `server/api/service.go` and adversarial tests keep identity unavailable while pending, reject cancellation/expiry/wrong-attempt/replay, expire abandoned attempts at the boundary, release identity only after verifier success, reject invalid session inputs/extra identity fields, prove API delegation, and issue opaque sessions; real Steam BeginAuthSession/EndAuthSession adapter and live PostgreSQL/session integration remain |
 | 7.7 `[D:7.1]` `[P]` | Obtain the production App ID, publisher key, SDR coordinator SDK/signing approval, certificates and hosted-data-centre support from Valve | Production prerequisites and rotation owners are recorded; no Spacewar credential or development certificate can reach a release build |
diff --git a/server/domain/auth.go b/server/domain/auth.go
index 3dede412..67fbf569 100644
--- a/server/domain/auth.go
+++ b/server/domain/auth.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type TicketVerifier struct {
 	mu          sync.Mutex
 	expectedApp uint64
 	consumed    map[string]time.Time
+	banned      map[string]bool
 }
 
 type AuthAttemptState string
@@ -159,7 +160,21 @@ func NewTicketVerifier(expectedApp uint64) (*TicketVerifier, error) {
 	if expectedApp == 0 {
 		return nil, ErrTicketRejected
 	}
-	return &TicketVerifier{expectedApp: expectedApp, consumed: make(map[string]time.Time)}, nil
+	return &TicketVerifier{expectedApp: expectedApp, consumed: make(map[string]time.Time), banned: make(map[string]bool)}, nil
+}
+
+func (v *TicketVerifier) SetBanned(playerID string, banned bool) error {
+	if v == nil || playerID == "" {
+		return ErrTicketRejected
+	}
+	v.mu.Lock()
+	defer v.mu.Unlock()
+	if banned {
+		v.banned[playerID] = true
+	} else {
+		delete(v.banned, playerID)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Verify consumes a backend-validated ticket exactly once. In production the
@@ -175,7 +190,7 @@ func (v *TicketVerifier) Verify(ticket SteamTicket, resolve func(string) (string
 		return VerifiedIdentity{}, ErrTicketRejected
 	}
 	playerID, ok := resolve(ticket.SteamID)
-	if !ok || playerID == "" {
+	if !ok || playerID == "" || v.banned[playerID] {
 		return VerifiedIdentity{}, ErrTicketRejected
 	}
 	v.consumed[ticket.TicketID] = now
diff --git a/server/domain/auth_test.go b/server/domain/auth_test.go
index 87856127..fd0e7322 100644
--- a/server/domain/auth_test.go
+++ b/server/domain/auth_test.go
@@ -38,6 +38,25 @@ func TestTicketVerifierBindsAppIdentityExpiryAndSingleUse(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestTicketVerifierRejectsBannedIdentityBeforeConsumption(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(1000, 0)
+	verifier, _ := NewTicketVerifier(480)
+	if err := verifier.SetBanned("player-1", true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	ticket := SteamTicket{TicketID: "ticket-1", SteamID: "steam-1", AppID: 480, ExpiresAt: now.Add(time.Minute)}
+	resolve := func(string) (string, bool) { return "player-1", true }
+	if _, err := verifier.Verify(ticket, resolve, now); !errors.Is(err, ErrTicketRejected) {
+		t.Fatalf("banned ticket accepted: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := verifier.SetBanned("player-1", false); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := verifier.Verify(ticket, resolve, now); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unbanned ticket remained consumed: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSessionIsOpaqueShortLivedAndRevocable(t *testing.T) {
 	now := time.Unix(1000, 0)
 	store := NewSessionStore()