Concerns over ticketing process
Manchester United is facing criticism from supporter groups following the suspension of some season tickets. The club’s actions are part of an effort to prevent the illegal resale of seats, but have led to fans feeling like suspects. Groups such as the Manchester United Supporters Trust (Must), the official Fans’ Forum, The 1958, and five other supporter organisations have voiced their complaints to the club.
The club contacted fans who had accessed accounts linked to the club using six or more devices or had forwarded tickets, as this activity suggested potential reselling. Fans were asked to explain the use of multiple devices, identify them, and provide photo identification for validation. The club’s email indicated that a review of activity across ticketing and digital platforms identified sustained activity that might suggest a breach of ticketing terms and conditions.
Supporter groups argue that while professional touting and automated purchasing should be addressed, the club’s approach lacks fairness, proportionality, and transparency. They believe that long-standing supporters, some of whom have followed the club for decades across multiple generations, should not be treated as suspects without clear evidence or a meaningful opportunity to respond to allegations. This has led to a perception among supporters of a “ban first and ask questions later” policy.
Impact on loyal supporters
One notable case involves Ruairi, a six-year-old fan whose account was restricted. His mother, Kate, a season-ticket holder for 19 years, described the situation as scandalous, highlighting the distress it caused her son, who is deeply attached to the club. Ruairi’s father, Gary, also expressed concern about the potential devastation if their son could not attend games.
Kate explained that the anomaly in Ruairi’s case stemmed from her logging into his account, as she manages 11 accounts for family and friends, many of whom share login credentials. The club flagged anyone who had given their login details to more than six different people. All these individuals sit in the same “singing section” of the Stretford End, a seating arrangement designed to enhance atmosphere. Kate detailed this in her appeal.
The club maintains that no bans or formal sanctions have been applied, and that any revoked season tickets will be reissued before the first home game of the season against Ipswich Town on August 30. However, Kate noted that Ruairi’s restricted account meant he could not apply for an away game, effectively preventing him from attending. Must believes the current blanket action is disproportionate, stating that banning people and then asking them to prove they should not be banned “offends against all natural justice.”
Club dialogue and fan concerns
Must has confirmed that it has been holding daily private meetings with the club to “de-escalate” what a spokesperson described as “a war on the hardcore fanbase.” The trust aims to collaborate with the club to combat touting, which they acknowledge affects regular fans. However, Must feels that Manchester United needs to adjust its approach to the issue, particularly regarding what constitutes “normal fan behaviour.”
The club’s position is that there is no ticketing process that requires a supporter to access another person’s account. Must, however, points out that groups of fans commonly share logins for each other’s ticketing accounts, and this should not be considered evidence of touting. The current situation has reportedly increased distrust among the club’s matchgoing supporters.
Under the club’s new categorised ticketing system, introduced before the last term, the price difference between a season ticket and 19 individual Premier League home tickets sold to a general member has increased significantly. There are also concerns that the club’s season ticket allocation has been reduced in recent years, from approximately 53,000 in 2019 to around 47,000 currently, despite a 25-year waiting list. Some fans, including Kate, express a belief that the club may not want working-class season-ticket holders.
Club sources have refuted claims that the process is intended to generate revenue or reduce the number of season tickets, stating that any cancelled season tickets will be reissued to individuals on the waiting list or those with a cup season ticket. The club has applied restrictions to accounts and provided a three-day window for appeals once a verdict is reached, believing that a longer period could be used to illegally resell tickets.
Source: independent.co.uk
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