An FA-licensed ticket seller has been attempting to charge Sunderland supporters more than twice the amount offered to Sheffield United fans for the same package at next weekend’s Championship play-off final.
Liverpool-based clubsportsandevents.com were asking Mackems to pay £1,299 for ‘Diamond Hospitality’ at the £100m Wembley showdown, with premium seating, access to a lounge, a three-course meal and drinks included. However, for supporters of the Blades, the exact same offering was priced at £649.
And for a lower tier product, which included padded seats and lounge access, tickets were £349 for Sheffield United followers and £799 for those travelling down from Wearside.
When contacted by Mail Sport, clubsportsandevents said simply that they are an ‘official ticket agent of Wembley Stadium’ and that all their tickets are sold in accordance with their contract with Wembley.
A Wembley spokesperson said they did not set the prices and do not have approval rights over pricing models. They receive a fixed fee from the agency.
One disgruntled Sunderland supporter had just one word to sum up a very disturbing situation, in which an external company appears to be attempting to cash-in on the loyalty of a club’s fanbase at the game’s national stadium – complete with the blessing of the FA. ‘Scandalous,’ he said.
An FA licensed ticket seller attempted to charge Sunderland fans more than double the price offered to Sheffield United fans for a Championship play-off final package at Wembley
Sunderland fans were asked to pay £1,299 for ‘Diamond Hospitality’ for the package, while exact same offering was priced at £649 for Blades supporters
BBC tight-lipped over Lineker’s future
The BBC is remaining tight-lipped over Gary Lineker’s future – or lack of it – with the broadcaster.
Lineker was expected to say his farewells after his last Match of the Day next weekend and then return for next year’s FA Cup followed by a swansong at next year’s World Cup.
However, substantial noise is going over an earlier-than-expected departure following the self-inflicted furore over the outspoken former striker’s republishing of an anti-Semitic post on Instagram, for which he apologised and subsequently deleted, and an incendiary interview with the Daily Telegraph in which he fired multiple shots at director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski.
In a piece in the Sunday Times, former BBC director of sport Roger Mosey disclosed that Lineker is certain that bosses want to show him the door and added that he could now part ways this week. For their part, the broadcaster have continued with a stance of ‘no comment’.
For how long that remains the case – with Lineker’s position seemingly untenable – remains to be seen.
The BBC is remaining tight lipped over Gary Lineker’s future with the broadcaster
Chelsea make history with latest kit launch
Chelsea last week became the first club in Premier League history to launch three kits in a row with no sponsor on the front of their shirts.
The west London outfit are thought to have been holding out for a more lucrative deal, with a number of parties interested, but the situation is a curious one.
They recently penned a short-term agreement with Dubai-based property outfit Damac, which expires at the end of this season, but there is currently no agreement in place for next.
According to Stamford Bridge insiders, a ‘competitive process is ongoing for next season’.
Several offers have been forthcoming, but the club remains seeking to ‘align with the right brand for the long-term’.
Chelsea became the first Premier League side to launch three kits in a row without a sponsor
The Blues have a short-term deal with Damac, which finishes at the conclusion of the season
Padel’s Olympic ambitions poised for major boost
Inside Sport is hearing that one of the final moves of outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach could be to fast-track the cult sport of padel for Olympic recognition.
This could see the rapidly growing game on the Olympic programme in its own right – rather than as a discipline of tennis – at the Brisbane Games in 2032.
This may well cause issues in the US, where padel has yet to take off, dwarfed instead by the more accessible bat and ball sport of pickleball.
Inside Sport is hearing the cult sport of padel could be fast-tracked for Olympic recognition
Fans require double take after Lancashire incentive
Followers of beleaguered Lancashire could have been forgiven for wondering if a dire state of affairs had reached a new low last week when they received emails from the club asking them if they would like to play at Old Trafford.
Following defeat at the hands of Northants recently, the Red Rose faced the humiliation of finding itself bottom of the entirety of county cricket, under the guidance of hapless coach Dale Benkenstein and ‘director of cricket performance’ Mark Chilton, the latter of whom who was forced to apologise to members for such an abysmal start to the season.
Fortunately, officials were not seeking players for the first team and were instead offering the incentive of a game at Old Trafford and a behind-the-scenes tour for those who bought tickets to a Vitality Blast fixture.
Contributors: Graeme Down and Ben Winstanley
