Manchester United fan groups have slammed the club for their treatment of supporters whose season ticket accounts have been restricted.
Certain figures at Manchester United have placed restrictions on accounts where usernames and login information have been shared with more than six different people.
The measures have been put in place in a bid to crack down on touting however some of the more savvy touts appear to have found a loophole in the system.
Manchester United have been accused of creating an “environment where loyal fans fear losing relationships with the club that have been built over decades”.
A collective statement on behalf of all United fan groups criticised the club’s new policy.
Fan fury
It read: “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.
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“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.”
Systems in place at Manchester United consider accounts used by seven different people as possible touting.
It then flags the account for further investigation.
A Manchester United source explains all
United sources claim that their system would not flag harmless activity and that no ticketing process requires a supporter to access another person’s account.
The club wants tickets to be purchased and resold through their authorised means.
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United have denied that the measures are designed to earn extra revenue or to reduce the number of season ticket holders.
Instead, they have confirmed that any cancelled season tickets will be reissued to another person on the season ticket waiting list.
Fans affected by the policy have been sent a request for information.
Any sanctions will not be forthcoming until supporters have either replied or 14 days have lapsed without a response.
United have told supporters that no sanctions would be imposed as long as there is a straightforward explanation.
The conflict is likely to cause more tension between fans and the club following a number of contentious decisions including a mid-season ticket price hike during the 2024/25 campaign.
There was further uproar when season-ticket holders in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand were moved to a different part of the stadium to make way for more hospitality seating.
