Several Manchester United fan groups have released a joint, strongly worded statement against the club’s unfair decision to suspend season tickets as part of a move to stop illegal reselling.
Controversial action
Over the past few days, United have made contact with fans who used six or more devices to access accounts linked to the club or to forward tickets.
United believe that this suggests the possibility of purchasing tickets with a view to reselling them for a higher price. Members are only allowed to forward tickets to other members or sell them back to the club.
Those contacted have been asked to clarify why multiple accounts were accessed, identify the differing devices used and provide photo ID as proof of validity.
What began as an operation to clamp down on touting has however seen some genuine supporters threatened with bans or withdrawal of their season tickets.
This has galvanised fan groups, who have issued a statement condemning United’s decision and calling for a fair and accountable process.
Uproar
The statement, which has been released by the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) reads, “We fully support the Manchester United Fans’ Forum letter and the principles it sets out. 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.”
“The principles outlined in the Fans’ Forum letter recognise something fundamental. 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.”
“That objective will only be achieved through trust, transparency, proportionate enforcement, better-designed systems and meaningful engagement with supporters, not by creating an environment where loyal fans fear losing relationships with the Club that have been built over decades. This is also a significant moment for supporter representation.”
“For the first time, supporter organisations from across the fanbase have come together to support a common position. While each group has its own perspective and priorities, we are united by our commitment to protecting Manchester United, its supporters and the unique supporter culture that has been built over generations.”
“When genuine supporters face issues that affect supporter culture, fan representation, affordability, ticketing or the future of the match-going experience, we will continue to work together wherever possible. A united supporter movement is stronger, more representative and better placed to protect the interests of current and future generations of Manchester United supporters.”
United are next in action on Friday when they face Rosenborg in their second pre-season friendly.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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1 comment
Mann united boards are aware that we are going to Champions league this season and yet we’ve not been able to sign more than three players knowing to them we need to sign up five or six experience players and yet there been slogishly doing negotiations all around while some other football club have signed more than five players