Man Utd ‘treating loyal followers like suspects’ as membership slammed in season ticket ban storm
Manchester United have been accused of treating fans like ‘suspects’ under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial regime as the club were slammed over rescinding season tickets
Manchester United fans have had their season tickets revoked(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United have been accused of treating supporters like ‘suspects’ as the club have been slammed in a major season ticket storm.
Fans claim United have restricted the accounts of thousands of season ticket holders in what the club say is a bid to clamp down on touting. Accounts where username and login details are shared with more than six different people have had their season tickets rescinded.
However, in an embarrassment for the club, it’s claimed the most skilled touts have not been affected, as they use different methods to navigate around United’s way of catching supposed touts. Meanwhile, loyal fans insisting they are innocent are instead said to have been caught in the crossfire.
Manchester United fans have protested against the club’s ticket price and policy(Image: PA)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Dedicated matchgoers have been caught up in the storm, with many claiming they have been banned after trying to log on from too many devices.
In a social media post, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) said the club has “been sending out account suspensions and season-ticket cancellation notices to thousands of supporters”.
One furious United fan took to X to say: “Had the dreaded email from United. 22 years, home & away, every game. Upwards of 75 European aways, and now it’s over. Finished. And for what? Helping my mum forward a ticket.”
A six-year-old boy has also reportedly had his season ticket banned because his mum logged into his account. She reposted a heart-warming video of her son from three years ago joining in the celebrations inside Old Trafford at full-time, with a new tweet that explained how he would not be able to attend games any more.
She wrote: “This little boy is now 6 and has just had his season ticket banned because as his mum i log in to his account. I can’t even tell him because it will break his heart! If they checked my insta all season they would see he rarely missed a game!”
Thousands of United fans have been impacted(Image: Getty Images)
Such is the enormous backlash against the club, United’s various fan groups have come together for the first time ever to issue a joint statement.
They said: “The issues raised are not about defending ticket touting or abuse of the club’s ticketing system. Professional touting, automated purchasing and those who exploit supporters for financial gain have no place at Manchester United and deserve robust action. However, that action must be fair, proportionate and transparent.
“Long-standing supporters who have followed Manchester United for decades, often across multiple generations of the same family, should never feel they are being treated as suspects without clear evidence, due process or a meaningful opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them.
“The current approach has created a growing perception among supporters of a ‘ban first and ask questions later’ process. That is not how trust is built, nor is it consistent with the standards of fairness that loyal supporters should expect from their football club.
“Investigations should establish the facts before sanctions are imposed, particularly where the potential consequence is the loss of a season ticket and relationships with the club built over many decades.
“The fans’ forum has rightly called on the club to pause the issuing of further suspensions and to halt any cancellation of season tickets while meaningful discussions take place. We fully support that request. 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.”
Under the plans, any confiscated season tickets will be reissued to someone on the season ticket waiting list.
Our sister title, the Manchester Evening News, reports that United insist supporters affected are only being sent a request for information, with no sanctions imposed until those supporters have either responded or 14 days have lapsed without a response.
(Image: PA)
The club say supporters affected have only been contacted if there is a technical anomaly consistent with behaviour used by touts, but where there is a straightforward explanation, no sanction will be imposed.
The MEN reports that United insist any season tickets cancelled as a result of the operation will be re-issued as a season ticket and that the crackdown is not aimed at reducing the number of season tickets, nor at increasing revenues.
It comes after United sparked fury by hiking ticket prices during the 2024/25 season to £66 – including children and concessions – sparking a series of protests and criticisim of the club’s controversial co-owner, the billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
