Manchester United’s recent attempt to identify potential ticket touts has sparked a significant supporter backlash, as ‘thousands’ of fans have had their season tickets restricted ahead of the new season.
After a number of supporters were informed that their season tickets are at risk of being revoked, several supporter groups hit back at the club, amid accusations that they are being too heavy-handed in their attempts to combat touting.
FourFourTwo takes a look at the protests and why the club have made these moves.
Why are Man United threatening to block season tickets?
Like all clubs, Manchester United have a set of terms and conditions that come with any season ticket, which include rules on how and how often season ticket holders can transfer their tickets to other people.
The Red Devils’ terms include a stipulation that season tickets can be revoked if they do not either attend or forward their tickets to approved family or friends for at least 16 out of the club’s 19 Premier League fixtures per season.
With physical season tickets no longer used, the club uses automated, third-party software to identify suspicious accounts, with a first set of restrictions recently sent out.
Manchester United issued a message to their fans’ forum last week defending their approach; it read: “Our recent operation focused on instances where multiple accounts displayed patterns of activity indicating they may have been centrally controlled, coordinated by the same individual, or operated using automated software.
“We are confident that the vast majority of accounts identified for misuse have been correctly flagged with the appropriate action taken.”
This followed a crackdown at the start of last season, which saw 22,000 tickets for their club’s first five games cancelled, with the club adding that they believe around 10-15% of season tickets are controlled by touts, as per the BBC.
And while Manchester United supporter groups acknowledge the need to crack down on touts, they want to see this approach changed.
“The club and its supporters share the same objective: ensuring tickets are used fairly by genuine Manchester United supporters while protecting the integrity of the ticketing system,” said a group of club supporter organisations, fan clubs and fanzines in a joint statement.
“That objective will only be achieved through trust, transparency, proportionate enforcement, better-designed systems and meaningful engagement.
“Taking time to review the current approach, engage with supporter representatives and restore confidence is in the interests of both the club and its supporters.”