Manchester United crack down on ticket sales by asking fans to disclose whether they have been charged more than face value for a seat by other supporters.
- Manchester United have launched an offensive against the ticket promotion
- United are asking fans to report others charging above face value
- So far the club has managed to identify 4,000 tickets that had been promoted
Manchester United have cracked down on ticket sales by asking fans to report other supporters who have charged them more than £50 for a seat to Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
In an email sent to official United members, seen by Mail Sport, the club encouraged fans who have been the victim of promotions to anonymously provide details of where they bought the ticket and how much they paid for it.
United said last month they are contacted by around 300 fans at every home game who have been stung by sellers and “often bought tickets at greatly inflated prices and sometimes bought seats that don’t even exist.” The club describes the problem as “one of the biggest” they face every season.
They also claimed that they had so far identified 4,000 tickets that had been promoted as a result of their new initiatives, including a buyback scheme and investigations of resale websites and social media.
Fans who sold their tickets above face value – £50 being the most expensive seat for United’s Premier League home games – or through unofficial channels face penalties such as a ban or written warning. .
Manchester United have cracked down on ticket sales by asking fans to report other supporters.
United are contacted by around 300 fans at every home game who have been bitten by scalpers.
However, United themselves have been criticized for selling seats in normal areas of the ground at hospitality prices. United insists this is the result of re-allocating season ticket holders or members, and the £350-plus price includes off-site hospitality.
Last season United introduced a minimum use policy for season ticket holders. It meant they had to personally attend 50 per cent of the club’s home Premier League games, transfer to another eligible supporter, donate to the MU Foundation, or return it for a full refund or risk losing their seat.
This limit is raised to 75 per cent for the 2023-24 campaign, with United due to start their new season at home to Wolves on August 14.
Earlier this season, United asked some fans to prove they were at Premier League matches, which they insisted they attended but where their ticket was not scanned at the turnstiles, providing a description of what they were wearing for that could be identified on CCTV.
The club later dropped the policy, revealed by Mail Sport, following criticism from supporters.
So far the club has managed to identify 4,000 tickets that had been promoted
