- The club came under fire last week for raising matchday prices to a flat £66 rate
- Fans of both Everton and United staged a protest on Sunday ahead of kick-off
- LISTEN NOW: Manchester City correspondent Jack Gaughan joins It’s All Kicking Off! to explain whether Pep Guardiola will have money to spend in January
A Manchester United fan has claimed that he was kicked off the BBC‘s broadcast of the FA Cup Third Round on Monday evening for protesting his club’s contentious ticket price hike.
The side came under fire last week for raising matchday ticket prices to £66 per game, with no concessions for either children or pensioners, as is custom.
Prices had started at £40 for adults and £25 for children but tickets will now be charged at the highest category, A, regardless of where they are located in Old Trafford.
While Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that Man United had stated only three per cent of supporters would be affected by the increase in prices due to 97 per cent of tickets for all remaining matches having been already sold, the move comes against the backdrop of swingeing cuts at the club under minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Manchester United Supporters’ Trust had previously hit out at the club for providing ‘zero consultation’ over the increase, and fans staged a protest over the hikes ahead of kick-off for United’s meeting with Everton on Sunday afternoon.
But one fan took his protest to the next level when he appeared in the background of the televised draw for the next round of the competition at the title-holders ground.
A Manchester United fan has alleged that he was kicked off a BBC broadcast for protesting ticket price hiks (top right, holding phone)
A day earlier, fans had turned out at Old Trafford before facing Everton to protest the measure
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come under fire after a string of cost-cutting measures since taking control of football operations in February
Appearing behind BBC host Kelly Sommers, the fan held up his phone with a message written on the screen reading: ‘£66 thieves’.
Although the fan was not seen being removed from the broadcast, the Sun alleges that the individual took to X (formerly Twitter) to post: ‘I got kicked out for this btw’.
Manchester United declined to comment when contacted by Mail Sport.
Hundreds of fans turned out at Old Trafford the day before to protest the increases, unfurling a ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ banner and singing chants about the Glazer ownership as well as Ratcliffe.
A similar banner was passed around Anfield between the supporters of Liverpool and Manchest City before their Premier League clash.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS leadership, which took over control of football operations at the Red Devils upon confirmation of the petrochemicals billionaire’s purchase of a 27.7 per cent stake in the club in February, has frequently found itself criticised as it carries out cost-cutting measures.
As Mail Sport previously revealed, 250 staff have been made redundant during his tenure as minority owner, and November saw this paper break the news that the club were considering cutting its annual budget to its Disabled Supporters Association in half.
Man United also took the decision to relieve legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson of his ambassadorial contract, cancel its annual Christmas Party, and in a controversial FA Cup-related decision, scrap traditional staff perks for the final including paid-for travel to Wembley, a pre-match party, and lunch after the match.
During the draw, Man United learned that they will begin their title defence against Premier League rivals Arsenal on January 11 of next year.