Manchester United has faced criticism from supporter groups following the suspension of season tickets for some fans. The club’s actions are part of an effort to prevent the illegal reselling of seats, but have led to concerns about how loyal supporters are being treated.
One notable case involves Ruairi, a six-year-old fan whose account was restricted due to what the club identified as a technical anomaly. His mother, Kate, a season-ticket holder for 19 years, explained that the anomaly stemmed from her logging into his account, as she manages accounts for family and friends who share login credentials. These family and friends often sit together in the Stretford End‘s singing section to enhance the matchday atmosphere.
The club’s policy flagged accounts where login credentials were used by more than six different people. While United maintains that it is not assuming wrongdoing and that restrictions are not outright bans, the appeal process for such cases is expected to take at least a month. This delay means some affected fans, like Ruairi, are unable to apply for away game tickets, such as for an upcoming match.
Supporter group concerns
Supporter groups, including the Manchester United Supporters Trust (Must), the official Fans’ Forum, and The 1958, have voiced strong objections to the club’s approach. They argue that the methods used to identify potential touts are disproportionate and treat loyal fans as suspects without clear evidence or due process.
A spokesperson for Must described the situation as “a war on the hardcore fanbase” and stated that the current blanket action offends natural justice by effectively banning people and then asking them to prove they should not be banned. Must has been in daily private meetings with the club, aiming to “de-escalate” the situation and help United understand what constitutes “normal fan behaviour.”
The supporter groups contend that sharing login credentials among groups of friends or for elderly family members who struggle with technology is common practice and not necessarily evidence of touting. They have called for a pause in further suspensions and any season ticket cancellations while discussions continue.
United‘s position is that no formal bans or sanctions have been applied, and any revoked season tickets will be reissued before the first home game of the season against Ipswich Town on 30 August. However, the club has applied restrictions to accounts and provided only three days for appeals once a verdict is reached, believing that a longer period could be exploited for illegal ticket resales.
Ticketing system and wider context
The controversy has intensified distrust among United‘s matchgoing supporters. The club introduced a new categorised ticketing system before last term, which has significantly increased the price difference between a season ticket and 19 individual Premier League home tickets for general members. There are also concerns about the reduction in season ticket allocations, which have decreased from around 53,000 in 2019 to approximately 47,000 currently, despite a 25-year waiting list.
However, Manchester United sources have refuted these claims, asserting that the process is not intended to generate revenue or decrease season ticket numbers. The club insists that any cancelled season tickets will be reissued to individuals on the waiting list or those with cup season tickets.
This situation is not unique to Manchester United. Similar sentiments have been reported at other clubs, such as Liverpool, where an extension to the Anfield Road Stand saw a larger proportion of new allocations go to hospitality rather than season tickets. Liverpool also recently announced that £1.2m had been seized from organised ticket touts following an investigation that resulted in 432 lifetime bans and 115 indefinite suspensions, with 65 of these relating to season-ticket holders.
The ongoing discussions between Manchester United and its supporter groups aim to address the concerns raised by the current ticketing review process.
Source: independent.co.uk
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
